A three-year-old child died on Monday after being discovered inside a locked vehicle at Seshego Hospital in Limpopo. Police opened a culpable homicide investigation after the girl was found unresponsive in a Toyota Corolla Cross at approximately 3:10 p.m. Medical staff pronounced her dead at the scene.
The child's mother, a hospital employee, arrived at work around 7 a.m. and left her daughter in the back seat while attending a handover session. Officers believe the girl died from heat exposure and oxygen deprivation after spending hours inside the sealed car. Outside temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius that afternoon.
Authorities will conduct a forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death. Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the investigation continues with no arrests made. The incident occurred during a period of persistent high temperatures in Limpopo throughout October 2025.
The child's mother, a hospital employee, arrived at work around 7 a.m. and left her daughter in the back seat while attending a handover session. Officers believe the girl died from heat exposure and oxygen deprivation after spending hours inside the sealed car. Outside temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius that afternoon.
Authorities will conduct a forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death. Colonel Malesela Ledwaba confirmed the investigation continues with no arrests made. The incident occurred during a period of persistent high temperatures in Limpopo throughout October 2025.
