Tearing at heart-strings

The community of Bela-Bela and the broader South African nation was on Tuesday 23 July still reeling with collective shock, after a mother appeared in court for charges related to her allegedly tying her mentally challenged daughter to a chair.

The child was also allegedly locked in the house.

The 30-year-old mother of two other children was expected to appear before the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on Friday 19 August, on a charge of child neglect, after being released on bail of
R500.

The mother was arrested on Tuesday 16 July after police received a tip-off.

The 12-year-old minor has since been moved to a temporary shelter.

Bela-Bela Local Municipality ward Councillor, Freddy Hlungwane, said on Tuesday 23 July the child was under assessment at the Bela-Bela Hospital.

He said he had personally investigated and established serious challenges around the entire family’s plight.

He delivered groceries to the value of R1 000 to the family.

Hlungwane said the mother insists she tied the child to the chair for her own protection such as, among others, accessing non-edible and potentially dangerous stuff around the household.

A section of the mainstream press has reported the child was “chained”, which on a closer look at the picture is inaccurate.

A chiffon scarf was instead used.

Hlungwane said the authorities are looking for a permanent place of safety for the child.

Bela-Bela Men’s Prayer Guild chairperson, Joseph Makhubela, said there were plans in the pipeline, ahead of the breaking story, to invite Limpopo Social Development MEC, Nkakareng Rakgoale, to visit the town.

He said the objective was to engage the province about challenges in the town, with specific reference to the welfare of children.

— The BEAT