Free State toddler rescued after being stabbed repeatedly, held hostage

A Free State toddler was rescued after being stabbed multiple times and held hostage in a shocking incident in the province.

A Free State toddler was rescued after being stabbed multiple times and held hostage. Image: Pexels

A 39-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing and holding hostage a Free State toddler, reported The Citizen on 21 February 2025.

The suspect is reportedly from Oranjeville in the Free State province. He is alleged to have threatened the two-year-old boy while holding him hostage.

FREE STATE TODDLER RESCUED AFTER BEING STABBED AND HELD HOSTAGE

According to police, they received a complaint on Wednesday, 19 February, in early hours of the morning regarding a hostage situation. The incident occurred at a home in Metsimahalo.

Sergeant Josephine Rani, the Free State Police spokesperson, said police immediately responded after being called. The Free State toddler was rescued after the police shot the suspect on his leg.

The child was lucky to survive the horrific ordeal. He was rushed to a nearby clinic to receive medical treatment. The suspect was arrested for alleged attempted murder and set to appear in court on Friday, 21 February.

MAN JAILED FOR STANGLING SEVEN-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER

In another story this week, a father was imprisoned on 19 February for the murder of his seven-month-old daughter. Hloniphani Trust Sithole was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 15 years for robbery, five years for kidnapping and four years for contravention of the Immigration Act.

He was reported to have kidnapped the child two weeks after he and her mom broke up. The mother was directed to the child’s body through a series of messages and photos from Sithole.

“The police and community members followed these directions and discovered the lifeless body of the infant in an open field. Paramedics later confirmed that she died due to strangulation,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.