The father of the one-year-old child, who was allegedly killed by her own mother, is still trying to come to terms with the tragedy.

Enerst Tembe, originally from Mozambique and now resides in Stanger, outside Durban, said he wants justice for his child. The one-year old Seluleko Tembe was allegedly strangled to death by her biological mother last Monday and her body was dumped in the bushes in Stanger. Tembe told ZiMoja that he was informed about the incident by the mother of his child, who is also a Mozambican national. "We started dating back home in Mozambique and came here to search for greener pastures. In June last year, we broke up and she moved out of the house we shared. That is when our problems started. She started telling me that she was going to dump the child with me. I told her that it was impossible for me to stay with the baby as I am always on the road since I am a builder. I begged her to take the baby to my mother back in Mozambique but she refused," he said.

ZiMoja is in possession of a voice recording where the mother of the baby is explaining to Tembe how she killed their baby. "I don't know what came over me. I never meant to kill the baby. I agree, I killed the baby by strangling her to death. It is painful and I don't know how I will survive without my child. Please forgive me. I never meant to kill her," she said sobbing. Tembe said that he was waiting to hear from the police about arresting the mother . He also said that the mother told him that she escaped to Mozambique soon after allegedly killing the baby on Monday. KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident. "Police in KwaDukuza have opened a case of murder after a body of a baby girl, believed to be approximately 12 months old was recovered at Njekane River in the Thembeni area on 25 March 2024. The child was allegedly strangled to death before she was dumped in the river. Police are searching for the mother of the child who could assist in the investigation," he said.