JOHANNESBURG – A 43-year-old Zimbabwean national, Listen Nkomo, has been convicted of murdering her two small children, a two-year-old daughter and seven-month-old son, by poisoning them in Empire Park, Parktown, on 3 June 2023.

According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole, on the day of the incident, Nkomo contacted her sister and informed her that she was in trouble and intended to kill herself and the children.

Mohlatlole added that after the sister was alarmed by the call, she alerted the children’s father, who immediately rushed to the park.

“Upon arrival, he found both children motionless.

“Paramedics later declared them dead at the scene.

“Nkomo was also found unconscious at the same location after ingesting poison.

“She was rushed to hospital, where she received medical treatment and survived.

“Thereafter, she was placed under police guard and suicide watch before being formally arrested,” Mohlatlole explained.

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Post-mortem examinations confirmed that both children died due to poisoning. A State Forensic Analyst testified that the substance used could cause death in humans.

Mohlatlole added: “During the trial, the accused elected not to testify. Acting Regional Court Prosecutor Terry Hlongwane led the State’s case and successfully proved the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

“In delivering judgment, the presiding magistrate ruled that, in the absence of any explanation from the accused, the only reasonable inference was that Nkomo had administered the poison to her children.”

The matter has been postponed to 28 May for the submission of a pre-sentence report.