A North West father was remanded in custody when he appeared before the Stillfontein Magistrate's Court in North West on a charge of murder, after he allegedly poisoned his two-year-old son.

IOL previously reported that the toddler died in hospital.

In an update, provincial police spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda Funani said 30-year-old Lerato Thobatsi appeared in court on Monday for the murder of his two-year-old son.

“His case was postponed until Monday, September 16, for formal bail application,” said Funani.

Police said Thobatsi was separated from his children's mother.

"The father went to his girlfriend’s home in Kanana near Klerksdorp and demanded to be given his three children, aged eight, four and two," she said.

The next day, the woman said the children could visit their father, provided that her brother goes with them.

Funani said when the brother and children arrived at Thobatsi’s house, the 30-year-old man instructed the children’s uncle to leave.

"The uncle left with the four-year-old. He left the two boys behind," police said.

Later that day, the father allegedly called the children's mother and told her she was going to do something.

"The mother then called the children's grandmother who informed her that they were on the way to hospital after the suspect allegedly poisoned himself and the two children," Funani said.

The two-year-old got ill and it was discovered that the older child did not swallow the poison.

"The youngest child died in hospital and the father was arrested once he was released from hospital," Funani said.

Provincial police commissioner in North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena has condemned the incident.

IOL