Eldorado Park Parents Abandon Bail Application During Appearance in Connection With Daughter’s Death

• The couple arrested in connection with the death of their daughter appeared in court on 18 August 2025
• The father faces five charges, including murder and child abuse, while the mother also faces one charge
• The little girl passed away two days after she was found in a shack on the property with head injuries

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – The parents arrested in connection with the death of their 4-year-old daughter in Eldorado Park have abandoned their bail application.

The couple were arrested on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, after police attended to a complaint of a father abusing his daughter. They found a 32-year-old man in a shack with two children, one of whom was the little girl who had severe injuries.

The man was arrested and charged with attempted murder, which later turned into a murder charge after the little girl, known as Baby Nikita, passed away. The mother was also arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice.

Couple abandon bail application

During a brief appearance in the Protea Magistrate’s Court, Soweto, on Monday, 18 August 2025, the couple opted to abandon their bail application.

The father faces five charges of murder, rape, compelled rape, child abuse and assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm. He is also accused of physically assaulting the girl’s two-year-old brother.

The mother is facing a charge of failure to immediately report a sexual offence against a child. During her latest appearance in court, she was also charged with the murder of the toddler.

The matter has been postponed to 9 October 2025 for further investigations.

Gauteng Provincial Legislature welcomes decision

The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature welcomed the decision by the parents to abandon their bail application.

The Committee was outraged when news broke of the tragic abuse and subsequent murder, and joined community members outside the court to demand that no bail be given.

It also called on law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to ensure that a watertight case is presented, as well as urged the courts to impose the harshest possible sentences should the accused be found guilty.

Khayelitsha couple abandons bail bid in Lolitha Kowa murder

Meanwhile Briefly News reported that Odwa Jack and Nokuthula Matyeseni have abandoned their bail application in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court. The couple appeared in court on 20 August 2025, charged with the murder and sexual assault of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa. They were arrested on 23 July 2025, a day after the little girl was last seen alive. Her body was found dumped in a street near her last known location. She had wounds on her arms, forehead, and a screwdriver stuck in her head. She also had a sock in her mouth.

The couple abandoned their bail bid in their latest appearance in court after alternative addresses could not be secured. Their Legal Aid lawyer told the packed courtroom that the families of the accused refused to take them in, should they be granted bail.

Jack and Matyeseni cannot return to their home in Khayelitsha either, as it was set alight by angry community members. They will now remain behind bars until their next appearance in October, but will not appear in court then, the magistrate noted.

The couple was arrested after sniffer dogs led police to their property. Kowa had been playing with their daughter the day before their arrest, but they maintained their innocence following her disappearance.

Other cases of adults killing children

Briefly News reported that 2025 has seen many adults appear in court for horrific crimes against children.

In July 2025, Tiffany Meek was arrested in connection with the murder of her son, Jayden-Lee. Meek denied killing her son, insisting that she had been framed.

On 23 July 2025, Nokuthula Matyesini and Odwa Jack were arrested in connection with the death of Lolitha Kowa. The seven-year-old was found brutally murdered and raped a day after she was reported missing.

Also in July, Amber Lee Hughes confessed to murdering 4-year-old Nada-Jane Challita, the daughter of her former partner.

Source: Briefly News