Child's abuse shocks cops

2004-11-10 22:32

Pretoria - A 40-year-old woman appeared in Pretoria North magistrate's court on Wednesday for allegedly abusing two children, aged two and six, in her care.

Plice inspector Percy Morokane said the woman, who cannot be named to protect the children, would remain in custody until her next court appearance next Wednesday.

She faces two charges of child abuse. She was the children's aunt, not their mother as earlier reported by police.

The woman has been the children's guardian since their mother died about a year ago. Her husband was their mother's brother.

She was arrested at her home in Hammanskraal on Tuesday afternoon after the six-year-old boy's minder at a local crche contacted health workers.

Boy has a fresh, open wound

When investigators arrived at her home, they found signs that the boy's two-year-old sister also had been abused.

Health department worker Ouma Matjutla said the boy's body had been covered in bruises and marks. His face had been burnt, apparently with matches.

There was a fresh, open wound on the back of his head and one of his fingers was badly swollen.

Matjutla said it appeared that he had been maltreated for a long time.

She said: "I couldn't speak when I saw him."

"Everybody at the police station was shocked."

The woman's husband could face charges if the investigation reveals that he turned a blind eye to the abuse, or took part in it himself, Morokane said.

- SAPA