Times Of Swaziland: GLUE-SNIFFING MOTHER BASHES, INJURES SON (6)

GLUE-SNIFFING MOTHER BASHES, INJURES SON (6)
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BY KHULEKANI NENE on 21/12/2017 00:29:00


SITEKI – A boy (6) sustained serious injuries and was forced to flee and spend
a night in a forest after he was brutally assaulted by his mother, who is
reportedly on drugs.
The incident, which has been described as gruesome and shocking by some people,
occurred recently at the rural community of Maphungwane, which is situated east
of Siteki town.
The names of both the woman and her son are known to this publication but have
been deliberately withheld for ethical reasons.
The minor was reportedly at home with other siblings when the minor attacked him
with a stick, severely assaulting him on the head, hands and legs.
Scared boy flees into forest
SITEKI – Fearing for his life, the boy fled and hid in a forest before he was
discovered by a relative who is a former member of Parliament (MP) of the area,
a source privy to the details of the matter said.
He was then brought to the Siteki Social Welfare offices before he was taken to
the police. He was then taken to Good Shepherd Hospital for medical attention.
The mother was then arrested by the police and she was charged with contravening
Section 48(1) of the Children’s Projection and Welfare Act No: 6/2012
Court papers allege that the woman did wrongfully and unlawfully assault the
minor and further failed to seek medical assistance for the injuries he had
sustained, thus exposing the boy to danger. It is further mentioned in court
papers that the severe beating inflicted on the minor resulted in both physical
and emotional injuries.
The mother appeared before Acting Lubombo Principal Magistrate Donald Mavuso,
who was sitting at the Siteki Magistrates Court. She was not asked to plead to
the charges she is facing but she informed the court that she would represent
herself during trial. Prosecutors informed the court that the minor has been
discharged from hospital and that he is recuperating at a ‘safe place’.