The mother of the four-month-old baby who was found in a drum full of water was arrested this week in connection with the death of the little girl.
According to a spokesperson for the police, the incident took place at Tsianda village. The mother initially reported the baby missing.
The 20-year-old Elekanyani Tshinyage allegedly went to a nearby spaza shop to purchase airtime, leaving the baby in bed alone. It was reported that when she arrived back home, the baby was no longer there. She was later found floating in a drum of water.
Initially, an inquest case was opened but has now been changed to a charge of murder.
Levubu police spokesperson W/O Solly Mukhola said they had been suspicious of the mother. "We were very surprised when we were told of the circumstances under which the baby died. The little girl was only four months old and it is quite surprising how the baby ended in a drum of water. We were suspicious all the time until our investigations positively linked the mother to the baby's death and we subsequently arrested her," said Mukhola.
He said the mother appeared in court and her case was postponed to 20 March. She mother has been charged with murder and she remains in custody.