Magistrate wants to know exactly when toddler from eMbalenhle died
Investigating officer told the court that the deceased body was found with new and the old bruises.
Before the magistrate considers Palesa Tsotetsi’s bail application, she first wants clarity regarding the time of Lungile Maponyana’s death.
Tsotetsi is accused of murdering her five-year-old stepdaughter, Lungile.
She allegedly rushed Lungile to the Paulina Morapedi Clinic on August 18, but the child was declared dead on arrival. According to the police, Tsotetsi claimed Lungile had an epileptic fit.
According to the magistrate, the question is if the five-year-old died before she arrived at the clinic or after.
Tsotetsi (27) asked for bail in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on October 16.
The investigating officer, Captain Chris Venter, testified that Tsotetsi was not a suitable candidate for bail because she was a risk to her own two children. Her life is also in danger because the community has already brought two petitions to court and were picketing outside the courthouse.
Tsotetsi first took the stand on October 9 where she entered a plea of not guilty. She told the court that she took Lungile to the local clinic because the child was not feeling well.
When asked about bruises all over Lungile’ body and head injuries, Tsotetsi told the court Lungile sometimes fell while playing with other kids.
She was surprised to hear that she was being accused of Lungile’s murder while she was a good mother and always collected Lungile’s medication.
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The defence attorney from Legal Aid South Africa came down hard on Venter’s reasons for not wanting Tsotetsi to be released on bail.
The attorney claimed the petitions from the DA and the Azania community members do not have substance.
He argued that the petitions appeared to have been written by the same person as there were no signatures on the documents.
The attorney also asked Venter why these witnesses never reported the deceased’s abuse to the police when she was still alive.
Venter did not know the answer but said in his opinion they might have been afraid of the accused. Venter told the court that the Lungile’s body was found with new and old bruises.
Some of the older bruises were already healing. He said Lugile also had injuries on her head and she had also been previously sexually assaulted.
Venter said a hose pipe that was allegedly used to assault Lungile was taken to the laboratory and they are still waiting for the results.
He said more arrests are imminent as their investigation is in progress. Tsotetsi’s bail hearing will continue on October 25.
