The Tembisa Magistrate’s Court sentenced a 30-year-old woman to 12 months imprisonment on Thursday last week.
The woman was sentenced for neglecting her children. According to the Tembisa SAPS spokesperson, Constable Tebogo Sesing, the woman’s sister claimed she had left her children, aged two and six, alone for several days. It is believed the mother spent the time with her boyfriend.
Constable Sesing said the police were summoned and a charge of child neglect was opened.
“The mother of the children was traced and later arrested. She was detained at the Tembisa Police Station. The suspect appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court and was found guilty. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The sentence was suspended for fiver year, provided she does not commit the same crime again,” said Const Sesing.
He said he hopes the sentence will serve as a deterrent to those parents who still leave their children alone or neglected.
“I am happy with the sentence. We urge parents to stop neglecting their children. Parents should not leave their children alone when going shopping. Parent should not leave their children locked inside cars. It is a crime to do so and they will be brought to justice. Let us embrace our children, they are our future,” he said.
