The Free State Health Department confirms in a response to OFM News’ questions that the child, whose pictures have been widely circulated on social media since the incident, was admitted to the Universitas Academic Hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat ward in Bloemfontein following the assault last week.

Provincial police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, tells OFM News that on Tuesday night 26 November 2019, the suspect allegedly assaulted and strangled his 11-year-old child in their home in Bayswater. Makhele says the child sustained numerous injuries to the eyes and the neck area. The Health Department corroborates this, adding the child, was kept for observation at the hospital till 29 November 2019, to ascertain if she sustained any other head injuries. She was released into the custody of her aunt and is scheduled for a follow-up consultation at the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic sometime this week.

Meanwhile, the victim’s 39-year-old father, who attempted to commit suicide after he allegedly assaulted and strangled his child last week, is expected to appear in the Local Magistrate’s Court today. Police spokesperson, Thabo Covane, confirms the suspect, who hails from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, was arrested sometime late last week and has been detained at the Bainsvlei Police Station since. The suspect attempted to harm himself by slitting his wrist after the assault. He was admitted to a local hospital and underwent psychological evaluation which revealed he was not suffering from any mental illnesses that may have caused the alleged assault.

OFM News/Cathy Dlodlo and Olebogeng Motse