The Morebeng Regional Court in Limpopo has sentenced a 43-year-old grandmother from Botlokwa to 10 years in prison for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on her four-year-old grandson.
Despite pleading not guilty, the court found the accused guilty after hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, including neighbors and the accused’s former boyfriend. The court heard that in 2023, the victim, who struggled with bedwetting, was repeatedly assaulted by his grandmother with a tree stick. The child sustained multiple scars on his body and face.
In a particularly horrific act, the accused also attempted to cut the child’s private parts to stop him from wetting the bed. The abuse was reported by concerned neighbours and the accused’s then-boyfriend, leading to her arrest.
In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Andrew Kgatla emphasized the brutality of the accused’s actions, stating that she 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.
