A 31-year-old woman has been remanded in custody by Molepolole Magistrates’ Court facing three counts of cruel treatment of her children.
The accused mother (names withheld to protect the children) of Magokotswane ward appeared before Chief Magistrate, Gaseitsewe Tonoki, on Tuesday.
Particulars of the offence state that on October 3rd, 2022 at Ratlhomelang ward, the Molepolole woman subjected a 9-year-old boy to torture, cruel or inhuman treatment by assaulting him with a stick on the head and back.
The second count states that during the same day, she assaulted her 7-year-old boy with a stick on the stomach and back.
On the third count, the accused, on June 21st, 2022 assaulted her three-year-old girl on the upper lip, causing bruises.
The matter was reported to the police after one of the victims, a Standard Three pupil, fell asleep in class and the teacher got suspicious that something was not right with him.
The teacher also noticed some bruises all over his body and sought the intervention of a social worker.
It is alleged that the boys were fighting and their mother got angry and used a stick to assault them as a form of discipline.
Her lawyer, Legolo Relaeng, pleaded with the court to engage a social worker to assess both the accused and her children as she believed the woman was plagued by social problems.
“I believe the accused needs counselling and, as for now, I will not be praying for bail. I am aware that this time it will not be safe for the accused to stay in the same place with the victims when released on bail, she has a sister in Gaborone who is ready to accommodate her,” explained Relaeng.
The Prosecutor Sub Inspector, Maureen Segokgo, had earlier on told the court that they were still awaiting a medical report for the second victim to be completed by the doctor.
She further said that there was need for a social worker to assist to assess the safety of the children and their welfare.
Magistrate Tonoki ruled that the social worker should make an inquiry in two weeks’ time and submit a report to the court.
The accused will be back in court from prison for mention on November 14th, 2022.