Grandmother sentenced to 10 years for assault on Grandson

The Morebeng Regional Court has sentenced a grandmother from Botlokwa, Limpopo to 10 years in prison for assault on her four-year-old grandson, who struggled with bedwetting.

The child sustained multiple scars on his body and face. In a particularly horrific act, the accused [43] also attempted to cut the child’s private parts to stop him from wetting the bed.

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The abuse was reported by concerned neighbours and the accused’s then-boyfriend, leading to her arrest. His grandmother repeatedly assaulted him with a tree stick.

Despite pleading not guilty, the court found the accused guilty after hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, including neighbours and the accused’s former boyfriend.

COURT SHOWS NO MERCY AS THEY SENTENCED BOTLOKWA GRANDMOTHER TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ASSAULT ON GRANDSON

In aggravation of the sentence, State Advocate Andrew Kgatla emphasized the brutality of the accused’s actions. Advocate Kgatla stated that the grandmother had inflicted lifelong trauma on a child who was supposed to be in her care.

He further argued that the victim lived in constant fear, knowing that any instance of bedwetting could lead to further physical harm. The state contended that there were no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify a deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence.

Welcoming the sentence, the Director of Public Prosecutions [DPP] in Limpopo, Advocate Ivy Thenga, reaffirmed the National Prosecuting Authority’s [NPA] zero-tolerance stance on child abuse. She also commended Advocate Kgatla and all stakeholders involved in securing justice for the young victim.