LIMPOPO – The case of attempted murder in which a 2-year-old girl, Katlego Khosa, from Mufeba village near Elim was horrifically hurt while she was in the care of her aunt, is at a standstill due to the absence of the accused’s attorney.
The accused, Ivy Mulaudzi, from Maila village near Louis Trichardt, was granted bail of R1 500 by the Tshitale magistrate’s court on 19 February after spending six months in the police cells.
She gave birth to a baby girl at Vhufuli Hospital while she was under the care of the Thohoyandou Correctional Services in February and requested the court to grant her bail as she wanted to take the baby to traditional medical practitioners to treat a type of illness that could not be cured by modern doctors, according to her.
Spokesperson for the Makhado police, Const Irene Radzilani, confirmed that Mulaudzi was pregnant when she was arrested and she gave birth to a baby girl at the Vhufuli Hospital on 18 February, not in the police cells.
Two months ago, the Waterval magistrate’s court postponed Mulaudzi’s case due to the absence of her lawyer who is known only as ‘Rambau’. On 3 August the case was postponed again for the same reason. She is due to appear before court again on Tuesday, 1 September.
Katlego’s blind mother, Veronica Khosa, said it is difficult and it looks like there is a plot to kill the case.
“Although I’m happy that my little girl is back home, I want to see the court prosecute Mulaudzi and sentence her. My little girl spent a few months in Mankweng Hospital’s intensive care unit and she is now able to speak and play with others. Mulaudzi took advantage of the fact that I’m blind,” she said.
“Instead of saving my monthly grant, I’m spending it on Katlego’s medication. Justice delayed is justice denied. The court should do something to make sure the case continues. If Mulaudzi’s lawyer is not coming, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) should do something,” she said.
Bail granted to aunt of battered baby
Brutality of little girl’s suffering
