The family of an 18-year-old accused of killing his three-year-old brother is reeling in shock and battling to come to terms with what happened, admitting that the teenager had warned them that he would one day do something that would hurt them.
Ikemetse Tsheole, who is accused of killing his brother Tebogo, appeared in the Vereeniging magistrate's court on Thursday on charges of murder and defeating the ends of justice. He was referred to a state psychiatric hospital for assessment.
His aunt, Lebogang Motsaneng, said Ikemetse was loved at home by his mother but he threatened to do “horrible” things. But as a family, they never expected it would be something as tragic as the deed he is accused of doing. Motsaneng said the family thought the threats he made were due to medication he was taking after being diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2021.
Ikemetse has allegedly confessed to poisoning Tebogo with rat poison.
On Thursday, his lawyer told the court that in October last year Ikemetse was admitted to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for two weeks after showing a history of a decline in function, social withdrawal, disorganised behaviour (praying at odd times), aggressive behaviour (threatening family members and destroying property) and bizarre delusions (a belief he had in an ancestral calling linked to “Illuminati Satan”).
“We knew he had a mental illness though he was taking drugs. Whatever the court said right now [psychiatric evaluation] we are not against that. We also need to find closure if what he did was intentional,” she said.
His aunt said after his diagnosis, Ikemetse wasn't violent, but problems emerged due to substance abuse. He became more aggressive towards his mother and was demanding money.
She explained that on the day of the incident, he was spotted by his other younger brother pushing the dustbin out of the yard. The younger brother thought it was unusual and decided to follow him.
“His young brother followed him. They fought because he asked to open the dustbin and he ran away. That's when he found the child wrapped in a blanket inside the dustbin,” she said.
Our relationship was fine when we were growing up. We didn't fight — up until 2021 when everything went sideways.
— Ikemetse's elder brother, Thato, 21
Ikemetse's elder brother, Thato, 21, said he forgave him for what he did and doesn't believe he intended to kill their younger sibling.
During a consultation with his lawyer in court, Ikemetse argued that he wasn't sick and wanted to see a sangoma.
“He used to smoke cannabis and cigarettes and then subsequently crystal meth — he got influenced. Our relationship was fine when we were growing up. We didn't fight — up until 2021 when everything went sideways. He was troubled because of the drugs and was fighting with our mother because of the drugs,” said Thato.
Their grandfather, who was present in court, said he didn't want his grandson to be released on bail because he was dangerous to the community.
Dingaan Masoeu said what had happened had not only shocked the family and the community, but broke their hearts.
“There was a time I took him to stay with me for a week at my house. He was controllable, and I used to give him rules — telling him that here we don't smoke drugs — you are a child and I want to see you being obedient.
“He was aggressive towards his parents but not me,” he said.
Ikemetse was remanded in custody and is expected to appear in court again on March 13.
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