South African Mother Who Killed Her 4 Children With Rat Poison

A South African woman identified as Zinhle Maditla has been found guilty of murdering her four children in Klarinet in eMalahleni in Mpumalanga, has been sentenced to four life terms in prison by the Mpumalanga High Court.

Upon sentencing in Middelburg on Friday, Judge Sheila Mphahlele said Zinhle Maditla had the intentions of killing her children since she lacked remorse.

"The children suffered the most gruesome acts at the hands of their mother, who was supposed to nurture and protect them," Mphahlele said.

"The accused betrayed her own children. Having consumed the poison, the children did not die immediately… they died long painful deaths. What is mostly disturbing is that these acts took place at their own home. This place was supposed to be their own [haven] with their mother. As a result, I could not find exceptional reasons which justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence."

Relatives of Zinhle Maditla, who were in court on Friday when she was jailed for four life terms for killing her four children, said they were shocked by the sentence.

She said "I don't think there is a mother who can give birth to a child and be happy when that child spends the rest of his or her life in jail," Martin said.

"Whatever happened here, happened through the will of God. We will always support Zinhle. We hope to see her coming back home rehabilitated one day."