Why some parents are driven to kill their own children
Psychologist Leshomo Sebati is worried about the rising reports of children who die at the hands of their parents.
Sebati revealed in an interview with The Midweek Sun that some parents can kill their own children for several reasons which include to remove them from the suffering that they are experiencing and other parents are psychotic and cannot differentiate reality from illusion.
Perpetrators cite several reasons for their actions, among them the desire get back at the other spouse in the event of infidelity by eliminating the child.
"Mental health policies, legislation, financing, human resources, availability and utilisation of services are things hoped for but far from reach in our country.
“Some of these killings could be linked to mental health problems,” he said, adding that in his experience, most parents who have killed their children were later diagnosed with some mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, substance use disorders and many others.
“So I take it that any act of violence is behavioural and thus speaks to mental health," Sebati said.
Sebati warned that there are always signs although they do not always point to homicidal tendencies, and they include psychosis, impulsive temper and anger, use of drugs and alcohol as well as domestic violence.
"One thing that I have noticed is that some people do not know how to handle conflict and most of the time they avoid it or simply put it off especially when it does not involve them directly.
“People need to be equipped with skills on how to deal with discomfort caused by personality clashes," Sebati said.
Sebati said that mental health problems can be triggered by childhood traumas. He also worries that in Botswana, the society generally believes that men and boys are made of steel and can assert power and dominance on others.
Sebati said this idea contains them until they blast out of pressure because they lack skills to voice out their insecurities.
The effects of this taught masculinity is seen in spaces, which should be seen to be advocating for policies, legislation and programmes rather being ignorant of mental health.
Sebati has also observed a trend where some people take their conflicts to social media, noting that it might not necessarily be wrong to publicly air your grievances, however it points to the lack of support from people who are supposed to offer assistance. Conflicts are good when managed but can be lethal if people do not know how to handle them.
"Socio-economic issues may contribute to conflicts that may cause one to commit crime. For example, there have been cases of babies who have been thrown in pit latrines shortly after birth, have you ever wondered if it would be the case if the mother had access only to a modern toilet system?
“Socio-economic factors have adverse bearing when it comes to mental health since it communicates issues of availability and access to services," Sebati said.
According to Sebati, there is need to raise awareness about mental health in communities. For example, he said very few public places, like schools have counselling services.
He noted that mental health policies, legislation, financing, human resources, availability and utilisation of services, as well as developing data systems should be at the core of national development planning.
Sebati highlighted that adopting outreach and community engagement to change gender norms and perceptions around mental health will be the foundation for understanding preventative and curative measures to be taken in addressing behavioural challenges.
Sebati advised members of the public to have compassion toward themselves and others.
"Giving ourselves and others space to be hurt and moving past that hurt is what each and every one should expect to experience.
“When we do experience such unpleasant emotions and feelings, we should reach out to others for validation and they should also be willing to give out pure validation. After all we are each other’s keeper,” Sebati said.
In 2024 a double murder suspect Unangoni Salathi appeared at the Francistown Magistrate charged with two counts of murder for killing his two children - Setso Sesame Enias and Loapi Kesame Enias - on July 2024 in Monarch Area 8.
The Prosecutor Ditshotlo Mpale pleaded with the court to remand the suspect to allow the investigating officer to complete his work. The suspect is still in custody.
In another incident, a 36-year old stepfather is in custody after murdering his disabled nine-year old stepdaughter in December 2024.
The suspect, Modisaotsile Peter is alleged to have hanged her stepdaughter inside her mother's room.
Sebati revealed in an interview with The Midweek Sun that some parents can kill their own children for several reasons which include to remove them from the suffering that they are experiencing and other parents are psychotic and cannot differentiate reality from illusion.
Perpetrators cite several reasons for their actions, among them the desire get back at the other spouse in the event of infidelity by eliminating the child.
"Mental health policies, legislation, financing, human resources, availability and utilisation of services are things hoped for but far from reach in our country.
“Some of these killings could be linked to mental health problems,” he said, adding that in his experience, most parents who have killed their children were later diagnosed with some mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, substance use disorders and many others.
“So I take it that any act of violence is behavioural and thus speaks to mental health," Sebati said.
Sebati warned that there are always signs although they do not always point to homicidal tendencies, and they include psychosis, impulsive temper and anger, use of drugs and alcohol as well as domestic violence.
"One thing that I have noticed is that some people do not know how to handle conflict and most of the time they avoid it or simply put it off especially when it does not involve them directly.
“People need to be equipped with skills on how to deal with discomfort caused by personality clashes," Sebati said.
Sebati said that mental health problems can be triggered by childhood traumas. He also worries that in Botswana, the society generally believes that men and boys are made of steel and can assert power and dominance on others.
Sebati said this idea contains them until they blast out of pressure because they lack skills to voice out their insecurities.
The effects of this taught masculinity is seen in spaces, which should be seen to be advocating for policies, legislation and programmes rather being ignorant of mental health.
Sebati has also observed a trend where some people take their conflicts to social media, noting that it might not necessarily be wrong to publicly air your grievances, however it points to the lack of support from people who are supposed to offer assistance. Conflicts are good when managed but can be lethal if people do not know how to handle them.
"Socio-economic issues may contribute to conflicts that may cause one to commit crime. For example, there have been cases of babies who have been thrown in pit latrines shortly after birth, have you ever wondered if it would be the case if the mother had access only to a modern toilet system?
“Socio-economic factors have adverse bearing when it comes to mental health since it communicates issues of availability and access to services," Sebati said.
According to Sebati, there is need to raise awareness about mental health in communities. For example, he said very few public places, like schools have counselling services.
He noted that mental health policies, legislation, financing, human resources, availability and utilisation of services, as well as developing data systems should be at the core of national development planning.
Sebati highlighted that adopting outreach and community engagement to change gender norms and perceptions around mental health will be the foundation for understanding preventative and curative measures to be taken in addressing behavioural challenges.
Sebati advised members of the public to have compassion toward themselves and others.
"Giving ourselves and others space to be hurt and moving past that hurt is what each and every one should expect to experience.
“When we do experience such unpleasant emotions and feelings, we should reach out to others for validation and they should also be willing to give out pure validation. After all we are each other’s keeper,” Sebati said.
In 2024 a double murder suspect Unangoni Salathi appeared at the Francistown Magistrate charged with two counts of murder for killing his two children - Setso Sesame Enias and Loapi Kesame Enias - on July 2024 in Monarch Area 8.
The Prosecutor Ditshotlo Mpale pleaded with the court to remand the suspect to allow the investigating officer to complete his work. The suspect is still in custody.
In another incident, a 36-year old stepfather is in custody after murdering his disabled nine-year old stepdaughter in December 2024.
The suspect, Modisaotsile Peter is alleged to have hanged her stepdaughter inside her mother's room.
