By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – The Phuthaditjhaba police have welcomed the three-year direct imprisonment sentence handed down to a 38-year-old mother by the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 2 September, for child neglect.
The woman, mother to two children aged four and five, was found guilty after leaving them alone for almost four days in December 2024.
The Phuthaditjhaba Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, working with the National Prosecuting Authority and the Department of Social Development, secured the conviction.
According to police spokesperson Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, the children nearly burned down their home while attempting to cook for themselves.
Mophiring said the sentence sends a strong message to parents about their legal and moral duty to protect their children.
“Daily supervision is the responsibility of both parents, as children have the right to be fed, clothed, educated, and safeguarded. Parents are reminded not to prioritise substance or alcohol abuse over the wellbeing of their children,” he said.
During the trial, the court heard that on 13 December 2024, concerned community members alerted authorities after noticing the children had been left unattended. Officials from the Department of Social Development, together with the police, intervened and immediately placed the children in a place of safety.
The South African Constitution affirms that every child has the right to life, dignity, and protection.
