The grandmother of an eight-year-old Free State girl has been arrested for allegedly beating her to death, police said on Wednesday.

Sergeant Malebo Khosana said the grandmother was arrested on Tuesday after the incident was reported to the police.

Apparently the incident happened on 13 May at one of the informal houses in New Stands at Thabong.

Khosana said it was alleged that on the day of the incident the grandmother left the child with a male visitor at the house while she went to buy beer.

When the grandmother returned, it was alleged that she was not happy with the fact that the child had taken meat from a pot to eat. The older woman called the child and apparently started to beat her.

Khosana said paramedics were called to the scene. They certified the child dead and left.

He said the police were not called or informed about the incident and the mother of the child arranged with a private mortuary in Thabong to fetch the body.

It was only after the incident was reported to the police on Tuesday that police began their investigation.

"The scene was visited by members of Thabong police and the local criminal record centre."

Khosana said the grandmother showed police the stick she used to hit the girl and was arrested for murder.