Staff Reporter
A 29-year-old mother of five from a township in Qwaqwa has allegedly poisoned herself and all her children after a fall-out with her husband, Free State police say.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said in a statement the woman, from Phamong Village ha Jesu O Teng in Tseki, had left her marital home and returned to her parents’ place with the kids.
The woman and the children were found lying on the floor by the woman’s mother around 3pm yesterday and emergency services were immediately summoned.
“An ambulance was called and the mother and two kids aged nine and six were declared dead at the scene,” said Makhele.
The other three children were taken to hospital for treatment but were reported dead on Sunday morning.
“Two more children died later at hospital, which brings the number to four. Only a six-month-old baby survived,” said the police in a separate statement.
The deceased are the mother, Mangale Mabaso, and children, Pheello Mabaso, 9, and Teboho Mabaso, 6, who were found dead at the scene, as well as Mphakiseng Mabaso, 8, and Pule Mabaso, 4, who died in hospital.
The circumstances surrounding the domestic dispute are yet to be established.
An inquest into the deaths and murder dockets have been registered for further investigation.