Father Arrested For R3pe And M8rder Of 4-Year-old daughter

A father, Ethan Watson, has been apprehended for the rape and murder of his 4-year-old daughter, Nikita, in South Africa.

The man and his wife appeared before the Protea Magistrates’ Court in Soweto, Johannesburg on Tuesday, August 12, 2025.

The father faced charges of murder, rape, compelled rape, child abuse, and assault, while the mother of the deceased was charged on a separate docket for failing to promptly report a sexual offense against a minor child.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional spokesperson, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, Phindi Mjonondwane, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Police had responded on August 6 to a report of the father physically abusing his child in the Eldorado Park community.

Upon arriving at the scene, they were directed to a closed backyard shack. Upon entering, police discovered a man with a young boy and a young girl.

They observed that the girl, who was lying in bed, had head injuries, bruises, and swollen eyes.

The man, who identified himself as the children’s father, could not provide a clear explanation for the girl’s condition.

The police arrested the father and rushed the girl to a nearby medical facility for treatment, where she succumbed to her injuries on August 8.

“The father was arrested on Wednesday, 06 August 2025, following a report to the Eldorado Park South African Police Service (SAPS) after a video in which the child can be heard screaming as he is assaulted went viral,” the statement read.

“Following further investigations, the mother was also arrested. It is alleged that the mother of the deceased knew about the sexual assault but failed to report to the authorities, as per duty in terms of the Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act 32 of 2007.

“A neighbour is said to have heard the deceased child screaming from the couple’s home and, on arrival, found the father allegedly beating the child and captured the incident on a phone.

“The video was circulated, leading to SAPS being summoned to the scene. They were both remanded in custody until August 18, for them to apply for bail.

“The recent spike in parents facing allegations of killing and abusing their children is of grave concern to the NPA, and we remain resolute in our efforts to promote children’s rights and safety. Our children are dependent on us to be their voice, and we will stop at nothing to ensure that justice prevails.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli