NELSPRUIT – A 30-year-old mother of three was granted bail of R1000 by the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court today, Thursday 01 April 2021, when she appeared on allegations of child neglect.
Her court appearance spiral from a sad incident which was earlier reported by police last week, in which the woman is said to have had a tendency of leaving her three children, aged between two, five and 11 alone in the house.
Nevertheless, the same last week, what was swept under the carpet for a while, was uncovered when a concerned citizen reportedly went to the house of the suspect only to find the three children in a terrible state without parental care. The little children then broke their silence and confided to the woman about their ordeal. They also indicated that they have been treated badly as well as neglected by their own mother. Details given by the children revealed that the 11-year-old girl, had allegedly been raped by a man who often visited their mother. The man also reportedly assaulted the five year old boy but their mother failed to report the two incidents to the authorities.
The said woman then, out of compassion, took the children with her to a nearby school and reported the matter to the school principal who then notified police about the situation. Upon arrival, police working together with their counterparts from the Department of Social Development, immediately sought medical attention for these children as well as removing them to a place of safety.
Meanwhile their mother suddenly disappeared without any trace, however a case was opened accordingly where police worked tirelessly and on Wednesday, 24 March 2021, they arrested a 91 year old man and charged him for rape of the 11 year old girl with an additional charge of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against the five year old boy.
The elderly man has already appeared before the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court last week Thursday, 25 March 2021 and he was remanded in custody until Tuesday, 06 April 2021, for bail application. The children’s mother though was arrested on Tuesday 30 March 2021, hence her court appearance yesterday and today. Her case was postponed until next week Tuesday, 06 April 2021 as well.
Source: South African Police Service