While the distraught family of a blind, 10-month old baby finalised his funeral arrangements on Monday, the boy’s father appeared in the magistrate’s court in Gqeberha for allegedly murdering him.
Jason Kevin Mandeka, 26, allegedly beat Kyle Tiyo to death by punching him in the face because he could not handle the little boy’s continuous crying.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening last week after Kyle and his mother, Michelle, had visited Mandeka at his home in Langdon Street, Bethelsdorp.
Mandeka’s first court appearance on Monday saw the courtroom packed with members of the ANC Women’s League, who voiced their contempt at the heinous crime.
State prosecutor Melani Hammett said the state would oppose bail and placed it on record that the ANCWL was present in court in protest against Mandeka’s release.
Mandeka requested bail as well as the services of a legal aid representative.
Magistrate Irma van Vuuren informed Mandeka that his case would be postponed to Tuesday for a formal bail application to be heard.
ANCWL spokesperson Sindiswa Gqomo demanded justice for Kyle and said Mandeka should remain behind bars.
“The tragedy shook all of us to our core,” Gqomo said.
“It’s hard to fathom that something like that could happen to an innocent baby.
“He [Mandeka] should be kept in custody until nothing less than a life sentence is handed down.”
Kyle’s uncle, Jonathan Tiyo, said Mandeka had allegedly had previous clashes with the law.
On the night of the murder, Mandeka allegedly became irate when the boy started crying, despite Michelle telling him that he might just need to be fed or burped.
He allegedly assaulted Michelle before chasing her away and keeping the boy with him overnight.
When Michelle returned to fetch Kyle the next morning, one of Mandeka’s family members allegedly told her he had taken the baby to his sister’s house a block away.
Kyle was already dead when she arrived there.
Kyle’s family said they were making the final arrangements for his funeral service on Wednesday.
HeraldLIVE