A 41-year-old woman who allegedly assaulted her two-year-old son and then set him alight, appeared in the Peddie Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has expressed shock and horror at what happened.
"Whatever circumstance that might have led her to allegedly kill her own child is unjustifiable. I have spoken to the investigating team that this case be given priority," he said.
The incident is said to have taken place in Crossroad Village outside Peddie on Monday night, at around 10pm.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa says it is alleged that the toddler was assaulted and set alight in front of his seven-year-old sister, who alerted the community.
She says the daughter is now in the custody of a family member while her mother is facing a murder charge.
The mother is remanded in custody and will be back in court on the 17th of July to apply for bail.
