Alamy
A mother poured paraffin over her two sons and set them on fire as punishment after she caught them smoking.
Her nine-year-old boy died and his older brother was seriously injured by their mum, Noluthando Nomavayi , 37.
A court in Cape Town heard that she inflicted the punishment after she caught them smoking cigarettes. She was sent to prison for 11 years.
Judge Vincent Saldanha said: "[The deceased] and his brother were much-loved and spent most of their time playing soccer in the confines of the family home."
Reports from various social workers and clinical psychologists showed that Nomavayi suffered from depression and had twice attempted suicide.
It was revealed that her mother had abused and neglected her as a child and she had been kicked out of her home when she fell pregnant at 16. Nomavayi was convicted of murder and attempted murder. Her surviving son is in foster care pending a Family Court inquiry.