Father arrested after two daughters allegedly die from poisoned food in Germiston

The house where a 34-year-old man is alleged to have murdered his two daughters by poisoning them. Image: Supplied

Arrest follows manhunt and police leads

Members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) Community Liaison Unit (CLU) arrested the 34-year-old suspect on Thursday afternoon, after a manhunt that followed the deaths. Officers traced leads to a location in Germiston and took the man into custody at the corner of Lambert and Prince streets, the EMPD said.

Police account of the alleged poisoning

The EMPD spokesperson provided a detailed account of the information that led to the arrest. In the statement released by the department, Chief Superintendent Kelebogile Thepa described how investigators were alerted to a possible poisoning of the family.

“The arrest follows information received from a reliable source regarding a suspect who allegedly poured sleeping pills into his family’s food. Two of his daughters were declared dead at the scene, while his wife and another daughter survived the incident. The suspect fled after the incident,” Thepa said.

Charges and detention

Following his arrest, the suspect was detained at Germiston Police Station. The EMPD said the man faces two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

“The suspect faces two counts of murder and two of attempted murder. He was detained at Germiston Police Station and is expected to appear soon before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court,” Thepa said.

What happens next in the legal process

According to the EMPD statement, the suspect is expected to appear before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court. At that first appearance, standard procedure is for court officials to confirm the charges and for the prosecution and defence to address matters such as whether the accused will be remanded in custody or released on bail. The EMPD has not released further details about court scheduling or any evidence that will be presented.

Investigation steps in suspected poisoning cases (general context)

In suspected poisoning incidents, investigators typically secure the scene, collect physical evidence and seek medical and forensic analysis. Toxicology testing and expert medical examinations are usually part of establishing whether a substance caused the deaths and, if so, its nature and concentration. Those procedures help prosecutors determine appropriate charges and build a case for court.

Police statements in such matters often reference leads from witnesses or informants; the EMPD said the arrest in this case followed information from a “reliable source.” Beyond that, the department’s statement did not detail forensic results or investigative steps already completed.

Local impact and public concern

Deaths of children in suspected domestic poisonings are rare but attract close attention from both law enforcement and the community. Incidents involving alleged deliberate contamination of food can raise immediate safety concerns for neighbours and prompt appeals for vigilance around medication storage and access. The EMPD has not issued any public safety advisory related to additional risk in the area.

Summary of confirmed facts

• Who: A 34-year-old man.
• What: Arrested on suspicion of poisoning that allegedly killed two daughters.
• Victims: Two daughters, aged one and 11, declared dead at the scene; the wife and another daughter survived.
• When: The alleged poisonings took place on Tuesday; the arrest happened on Thursday afternoon.
• Where: Germiston; the suspect was arrested at the corner of Lambert and Prince streets and detained at Germiston Police Station.
• Charges: The suspect faces two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Reporting note

The details in this report are drawn from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department’s public statement. Authorities have provided the account quoted above and confirmed the arrest, the alleged method cited and the charges. Further investigative and court developments have not been released by the EMPD at this time.