The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso, has urged parents and guardians to adopt alternative, constructive forms of discipline following a tragic incident that has left many in the community reeling.
The call comes after a 62-year-old man from Ngojini in Ngqeleni was arrested and charged with murder following the death of his 14-year-old son. Reports suggest the incident may have been triggered after the teenager allegedly stole and used his father’s bank card.
Preliminary investigations indicate that police were called to the family home on the morning of Tuesday, 6 January 2026. It is alleged that the assault took place the previous evening, around 22:00 on Monday, 5 January 2026, when the boy was beaten with a sjambok and a stick.
The teenager was reportedly tied with a rope and left inside the house overnight. He was discovered unresponsive at approximately 04:00 the following morning.
The 62-year-old suspect was arrested by Ngqeleni police and appeared in the Ngqeleni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, where he faces a charge of murder.
Commenting on the incident, Major General Kupiso said: “This is a gruesome and heartbreaking tragedy. While we understand the frustrations of parenthood, violence is never the answer. We urge all parents and guardians to seek out and use alternative, constructive means of discipline. The loss of any child, especially in such a violent manner, is an unforgivable devastation to both the family and the community.”
Police and provincial authorities have described the incident as a stark reminder of the importance of safe, non-violent approaches to parenting, warning of the devastating consequences when discipline escalates into harm.
Saturday Star