Tragic Case: Teenager Arrested After Allegedly Confessing To Killing His Brother

Holifil

04 Apr, 2025

An 18-year-old from Orange Farm in Johannesburg was arrested after allegedly confessing to the murder of his three-year-old brother.
The heartbroken mother of the toddler realized her child was missing and began a frantic search.
The teenager's 16-year-old brother reportedly witnessed the alleged disposal of the body and confronted his sibling.

Tebogo Mokwena, a seasoned Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, has extensively covered criminal activities, police investigations, and high-stakes court cases during his three-year tenure at Daily Sun.

South Africa is reeling from the shock of a young man allegedly taking the life of his own brother. Images: AlexRaths and FG Trade. Source: Getty Images

ORANGE FARM, GAUTENG — In a harrowing incident that has left the nation stunned, an 18-year-old teenager from Orange Farm in Gauteng was arrested after allegedly confessing to the murder of his three-year-old brother. The chilling events unfolded on January 31, 2024, when the older brother was reportedly caught in the act of disposing of the toddler's body by his 16-year-old sibling.

Understanding the Tragedy: What Happened to the Toddler?

As reported by TimesLIVE, the toddler's mother became increasingly concerned when she noticed her son was missing from their home. Initially, she assumed he was playing nearby, but as the afternoon wore on and her child failed to return, her worry turned to panic. She began a desperate search for her little boy. Hours later, one of her other sons, who was herding goats in the area, stumbled upon a horrifying scene. He noticed his older brother in the act of discarding the body of the three-year-old into a dustbin. Shocked and devastated, the 16-year-old confronted his brother, retrieved the dustbin, and brought it back home.

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Emergency services were immediately called, but upon their arrival, they confirmed the tragic news: the child had passed away. The following day, the suspect, reportedly overwhelmed by guilt, surrendered himself to the police. During his confession, he admitted to using rat poison to commit the heinous act. The case was eventually brought before the Vereeniging Magistrates Court, where it was postponed until February 13, 2025, for a bail application.

Other Shocking Confessions: When the Truth Comes Out

In a similarly shocking incident, a man from KwaZulu-Natal live-streamed a confession on Facebook, admitting to the murder of his girlfriend.
A South African Police Service officer stationed in Mpumalanga admitted to killing two individuals in Embalenhle.
In Limpopo, a man turned himself in to authorities after allegedly murdering his wife and disposing of her body in the Free State.

An 18-year-old now faces charges for the alleged murder of his toddler sibling. Image: Ignatiev. Source: Getty Images

Public Reaction: Netizens React to the Devastating News

The alleged crime has sent shockwaves through social media platforms, with many users expressing their disbelief and outrage over the tragedy.

Mologadi Mantsho voiced her thoughts:

"Poor baby. This little boy trusted his big brother to protect him, not to take his life. This teenager deserves nothing less than to rot in jail."

Malebo Ngake added:

"The weight of his actions must have been unbearable. It seems the guilt eventually caught up with him."

Queen Lee Mothupi expressed her concerns:

"Orange Farm is in desperate need of prayer and healing. This tragedy is heartbreaking."

No Zihstak was particularly vocal:

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"This boy is beyond redemption. There is simply no excuse for what he has done. He's nothing short of demonic."

Genaro Primetime summed it up:

"This kid is pure evil. There's no other way to describe it."

Another Case: A Limpopo Man's Confession to Killing His Brother

In a separate but equally disturbing case, Briefly News reported that a man from Limpopo handed himself over to the police in July 2024 after allegedly killing his brother. The fatal argument began when the older brother slapped his younger sibling for not opening the door quickly enough. What started as a minor disagreement escalated into a violent altercation. In the heat of the moment, one of them allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed his brother to death, leading to his eventual confession and arrest.