BY REGINALD KANYANE
A 27 year-old mother was sentenced to three year in custody for neglecting her three children age under 10.
Mapula Mabiletsa appeared before Brits Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
A Jericho-based mother left her children at her neighbour’s house for three days under false pretense.
Mabiletsa told her neighbour that she was attending a wedding and will return later on. She failed to return and could not give proper explanation of her whereabouts on her arrival later on.
North West police spokesperson, Captain Paul Ramaloko said: “The matter was reported to the police after the neighbour realised that Mabiletsa was not coming. She was then arrested and charged for child neglect upon her return. A neighbour applauded police and said she was relieved that the law has taken its course.”
She said that Mabiletsa had developed a pattern of neglecting her children.
The kids were taken to a place of safety while their mother is serving her sentence.
North West MEC for Social Development Fenny Gaolaolwe urged the community members to report cases of child negligence to the social workers.
She said that child protection calls for all stakeholders including parents and everyone in the society.
“The protection of children is legislated in the Children’s Act. Everybody has to play a role in protecting our children. They are our future generation. As results they must be protected and be nurtured in areas of sequester.”
Positive Youth of Taung organization chairperson, Phemelo Mohutsiwa urged the community to work hand-in-hand with the authorities.
He said the children were the future generations, so they were supposed to grow in conducive atmosphere.
“Children can be raised by the whole village, so I urge everyone to make sure that they report all mischievous things that are done by mothers or elders to the kids behind close doors. I applaud the move made by the neighbour of the perpetrator. We need to work together to raise up a better society.”
-TDN
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