A Ballito mother who drowned her four-year-old daughter in a bucket of water in 2022 has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

After pleading guilty under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, the 47-year-old woman was sentenced in the KwaDukuza Regional Court last Friday.

In her plea, she said her husband, a hospital administrator, frequently travelled across Africa.

She and her daughter often accompanied him on his travels but when her husband’s contract was terminated and he travelled less frequently, she became severely depressed.

She missed her son from a previous marriage, who lived with his father, and felt sadness over her husband’s absences. She said she suffered from depression for many years, which began with postpartum depression after her son was born.

On the morning of April 26, 2022, she was alone with her daughter while her husband was away.

She said she planned to commit suicide by consuming benzene and sleeping tablets. Feeling that she could not leave her daughter behind without care, she filled two buckets with water, tied the girl’s hands and drowned her.

She admitted she knew her actions were unlawful and intentional. After drowning her daughter, she attempted to take her own life.

When she woke up later, she called her landlord and husband to confess what she had done and was arrested.

Prosecutor Paul Nel handed in a victim’s impact statement compiled by the girl’s father.

He stated that his daughter was killed in a cold-hearted manner. He said he was emotionally drained as he was very close to his daughter.