Father pleads guilty to murder of Eldorado Park ‘Baby Nikita’

The father of a four-year-old girl dubbed “Baby Nikita” has pleaded guilty to her murder.

The father and the mother appeared in the high court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

Before the court proceedings started, the mother kept her eyes closed and palms together as if she was praying.

While the father pleaded guilty, the mother pleaded not guilty.

The father faces charges including murder, rape and child abuse, while the mother faces charges of failing to report the alleged abuse and sexual offences.

According to the indictment read out in court, Baby Nikita was allegedly assaulted, bitten and drowned in a bath at the family’s home on August 6 2025. She died at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital on August 11 2025.

The indictment also contains two charges of rape relating to the four-year-old, with the state alleging that an unknown object was inserted into her private parts.

The two accused face further charges of child abuse and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm relating to Baby Nikita and her sibling.

The father also faces charges of assaulting a police sergeant and resisting arrest.

The mother faces a separate charge of failing to report a sexual offence allegedly committed against the child, which the state says she knew about.

During proceedings, the charges against both accused were read out in court before they were asked whether they understood the allegations.

The matter is expected to proceed with the mother still facing the charges against her.

Her defence team indicated they were ready to proceed with the trial.

Proceedings were postponed to Thursday to allow the father’s lawyer time to bring a statement in court regarding the guilty plea.