Dad seeks justice after son dies from hot bath

“I PRAY every day and feel so much guilt for not being able to protect him.”

These are the words of a father who lost his three-yearold son after he was placed in a boiling hot bath, allegedly by the mother’s boyfriend last year.

The Durban-based father, who can’t be named as other minors are involved, said yesterday he was reassured that his two sons living with their mother in Joburg were protected and looked after.

But in June, he received a phone call telling him that his three-year-old son Kayden* had died after sustaining 60% burns to his body.

The mother and her boyfriend have been charged with murder and child neglect.

A source close to the case said the boy was put into a bath by the boyfriend, while the mother was not at home, and was found burnt in his bed only when she returned.

Only hours later did she and her boyfriend call an ambulance when they realised the child was unresponsive, claimed the source.

The couple were arrested earlier this month and have been waiting to hear whether they will be granted bail. However, they will remain in custody until March 10, when Magistrate Peter du Plessis will pass judgment.

Du Plessis was meant to make a decision on their bail application yesterday at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court.

However, he told the court that a pathologist will need to testify before any decision can be made.

The father said his sevenyear-old son was devastated when he realised he had lost his younger brother.

“Through time, love, affection, reassurance and guidance he is (now) doing well and is happy,” he said.

The father said the last time he saw Kayden was in 2015. He said all contact was lost when the mother moved to Joburg.

He said all he wishes for is for justice to prevail, and to stop the abuse and killings of innocent children.

“The death of the little boy has brought tremendous amount of pain and many unanswered questions of what truly happened on the day. No parent should have to deal with this burden as to how an innocent child has been abused, neglected and taken from us so soon. It is a hard time for us and we just want justice,” the father said.

He added that having lost contact with his sons’ mother made it difficult for him to maintain a relationship with his children.

“Even when I got hold of the mother eventually, I was told by her that I was not allowed to have any sort of physical or telephonic contact with the children as it will confuse them even more,” he said.

During court proceedings, the co-accused sat fapart in the dock, while the boyfriend cried when Du Plessis said both will remain in custody until next month.

The matter will continue next month when pathologists will testify.

No parent should have to deal with this burden...