SITEKI – A 28-year-old woman has appeared in court for the murder of her boyfriend’s six-year-old boy and attempt to kill his nine-year-old brother.
Mavis Philile Gama of Ngcina under Chief Sigeza, made her first court appearance before Siteki Principal Magistrate Musa Nxumalo yesterday. She is facing two criminal charges as a result of the incident which occurred last Thursday at KaMkhweli.
The charges relate to the alleged murder of the six-year-old boy and the attempted murder of his nine-year-old brother, who was reportedly hacked once in the head with a bush knife.
Principal Magistrate Nxumalo ordered that Gama be remanded in custody until April 14, 2026. The matter will proceed to the Big Bend Magistrates Court.
According to information gathered by the Eswatini News, the incident has left the KaMkhweli community under Ngcina Constituency shocked and traumatised.
The younger child lost his life, while his elder brother narrowly escaped death, sustaining a head injury.
The incident has sparked outrage and in the community, with many residents expressing disbelief at the brutality of the attack. Others have called for justice to be served swiftly, while also raising concerns about domestic disputes escalating into extreme violence.
According to a source close to the matter, the suspect had been involved in ongoing disputes with the children’s father prior to the incident. Tensions between the couple are said to have escalated over time, with allegations of abuse within the relationship.
“She has been assaulting him for some time now,” the source said.
The source further alleged that the father had recently reached a breaking point and decided to report the matter to the police, a decision believed to have triggered the suspect’s alleged actions.
“That is when she decided to go to his house to take revenge,” the source stated.
It is reported that the suspect went to the homestead at around 4pm, allegedly intending to confront the father. However, upon arrival, she reportedly found only the two children carrying out household chores, who informed her that their father was not at home.
According to the source, this response angered the suspect, leading to a violent outburst. “She came carrying a knife,” the source alleged.
The source claimed that the suspect then locked the children inside the house before launching the attack.“She locked them inside and stabbed the six-year-old first,” the source further alleged.
The deceased’s elder brother, who witnessed the brutal killing of his sibling, attempted to flee. However, the suspect reportedly pursued him and inflicted further harm.
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Mavis Philile Gama (28) outside the Siteki Magistrates Court following her first appearance yesterday. (Pic: Mukelo Magagula)