A 24-year-old man is expected to appear in the Hertzogville Magistrate’s Court after his four-year-old stepson was found dead with serious head injuries in the Malebogo area adjacent to Hertzogville.
Police attended a scene of crime at the old cemetery in Malebogo on Monday, 10 August 2026, where the toddler’s body was discovered wrapped in blankets and curtains, the provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant‑Colonel Thabo Covane, said.
“On Monday, the police in Hertzogville attended to a scene of crime at the Old Cemetery in Malebogo. According to reports, the body of a child with bad injuries to the head was found wrapped in blankets and curtains. Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRD) experts based in Welkom were summoned to process the scene,” Lieutenant‑Colonel Thabo Covane said.
Police investigation and arrest
Police opened a case of murder at the Hertzog police station after the child’s lifeless body was located. During the preliminary investigation the identity of the toddler was established and investigators visited the family home in Malebogo.
At the address they recovered bloodstained portions of the blankets and curtains found at the cemetery, together with clothing believed to belong to the deceased. The police arrested a 24-year-old male, identified as the child’s stepfather, as a suspect.
Immediate next steps
The suspect is expected to appear in the Hertzogville Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The matter remains under investigation and the police have not released further details about the circumstances leading to the child’s injuries.
Other recent child homicide in the province
In a separate incident in Bultfontein, police arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of rape and murder after the body of a seven-year-old girl was found beneath a bed in a shack in Phahameng.
Police said the child had injuries to her neck and was discovered with her pants pulled down by her 14‑year‑old sister, who saw a hand protruding from under the bed. The Bultfontein suspect is expected to appear in the Bultfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday on charges of murder and rape.
What police have confirmed so far
- Location of discovery: Old Cemetery, Malebogo (adjacent to Hertzogville).
- Victim: Four‑year‑old boy from Malebogo.
- Suspect: 24‑year‑old male, identified as the victim’s stepfather; arrested on 10 August 2026.
- Case status: Murder case opened at Hertzog police station; suspect to appear in Hertzogville Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 August 2026 | Police attended scene at Old Cemetery, Malebogo; body of four‑year‑old found; LCRD experts from Welkom processed scene. |
| 10 August 2026 | 24‑year‑old stepfather arrested; murder case opened at Hertzog police station. |
| 11 August 2026 (expected) | Suspect due to appear in Hertzogville Magistrate’s Court. |
Community impact and unresolved questions
These incidents highlight growing concerns about child safety in parts of the Free State. Neighbourhoods such as Malebogo and Phahameng will be awaiting further information from investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority as the cases proceed to court.
Police spokeswoman statements indicate forensic teams from the Local Criminal Record Centre in Welkom were involved in processing the cemetery scene. No further details about possible motives, the sequence of events or the condition of witnesses have been released at this stage.
Members of the public with information are urged to contact Hertzog police or their nearest police station. Anyone who requires child protection advice or support can approach local social services or the provincial Department of Social Development for guidance while investigations continue.
Both matters remain active investigations and police appealed for anyone with information to come forward as the cases progress through the criminal justice system.
