South African man arrested for murder after he kidnapped and hung his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son from tree on Father’s Day

On Father’s Day, a 35-year-old man, Siyanda Magagu kidnapped his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son, Anganam Magxwalisa and hung him to die on a tree in Xholora township, Stutterheim, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.  

Eastern Cape NPA spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said Magagu appeared on charges of kidnapping and murder at the Stutterheim Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. 

He was remanded in custody.

It is alleged that Magagu, who was in a relationship with Anganam’s mother, took the child from his 13-year-old cousin, saying he was going to buy him sweets at a local spaza shop.

This allegedly happened after he had argued with the child’s mother.

According to the family’s spokesperson, Babalwa Goroleki, Magagu had been in the child’s life since he was two months old.

“We are deeply shocked,” said Goroleki.

“We never thought he would do something like this. He loved him like his own. We just don’t understand what could have possessed him to do something like this.

“Even here at home, we had a good relationship with him because we could see how he treated the little boy.

“Was it just because he argued with the mother? I don’t understand how someone could involve a child in something like that,” said the visibly distraught Goroleki.

Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said the mother contacted the police to report that Anganam was missing.

Police found his body hanging from a tree a few hours later. 

Magagu, a taxi driver, was arrested early on Sunday morning.