Joburg - Another child has met his fate at the hands of the gender-based violence (GBV) pandemic as a 5-month-old baby boy at Extension 4, Kgakala Township in Leeudoringstad, North West, is killed by his uncle.
It’s alleged that the 38-year-old suspect, the child’s uncle, had an argument with the boy’s mother aged 16.
“The uncle then went outside and came back with a spade and attempted to assault the niece, but ended up hitting the 5-month-old baby boy whom his mother was carrying on her back,” said a SAPS statement.
The child was rushed to a local clinic, where he was transported to Wolmaransstad Hospital and ultimately transferred to Tshepong Hospital, where he died due to head injuries.
According to SAPS, the suspect was expected to appear in the Leeudoringstad Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, November 9, for murder.
In another case involving children, a 62-year-old man was sentenced to 54 years in prison for various sexual crimes at the Oudtshoorn Regional Court last week.
According to SAPS, the man was given 40 years of imprisonment for three counts of rape, 14 years for four counts of sexual assault and a further five years for 24 counts of possession of child pornography.
“Investigation into allegations of sexually-related incidents commenced during 2003. The probe revealed that a 13-year-old victim went to visit the couple at their residence during 2003, when he touched her private parts.
“He later took the girl to his church office, where he also violated her. After threats from the suspect, she left Oudtshoorn and was later contacted by a second victim who had a similar experience with the man,” read a SAPS statement.
Further investigations revealed that the second victim aged 14 was adopted by the couple and was violated by the man on numerous occasions since 2011.
According to SAPS, the man would force the girl to watch pornographic material with him and a search of his premises led to the confiscation of electronic equipment and child pornographic material.
Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, applauded detectives attached to the Oudtshoorn Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit and the prosecution team for their efforts, which ensured the lengthy incarceration of the man.
“This lengthy incarceration is a boost for policing efforts in the fight to eradicate the scourge of GBVF, which threatens the safety of the most vulnerable in society. Policing efforts include the bolstering of awareness campaigns on this epidemic in anticipation of the 16 Days of Activism, which will be launched later this month,” said Patekile.
The Star