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Crime Reporter
A Zimbabwean man has been arrested in South Africa on allegations of killing his girlfriend’s 11-month-old baby boy. The man, aged 21 — whose name is still being withheld — is expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court soon, facing murder charges.

According to media reports, police said the baby boy who was allegedly beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend in Johannesburg sustained swelling on his head and bruises all over his body.

South Africa Police Services Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele was quoted as saying: “It was very sad to see a baby in that condition. “A post-mortem would be conducted to confirm what killed the infant.”

Warrant Officer Mbele said the baby’s 18-year-old mother was originally from Swaziland. The mother claimed to have been outside their shack in the Madondo Squatter Camp on Thursday doing laundry, when she heard her boyfriend shout at the baby, according to reports.

She eventually went in and asked him where the baby was, said Warrant Officer Mbele. He (the suspect) first said the baby was asleep and then changed his story and said he thought the child had fainted.

The mother suggested that they rushed the unresponsive child to a nearby fire station for medical assistance and paramedics at the station declared the baby dead.

The man tried to flee, but was kept at the station until the police came and was arrested and charged with murder.