Mom in court for burning teen

2007-12-31 21:32

Johannesburg - A Port Elizabeth mother who poured boiling water over her daughter's legs, briefly appeared in the Gelvandale Magistrate's court on Monday.

According to police, Desiree Visagie was arrested after she poured boiling water over her 16-year-old daughter's legs on Saturday - after the teenager failed her matric examinations.

Captain Verna Brink said the mother and daughter were having many problems at home and social services were involved.

"The mother and daughter could not see eye to eye on many issues and were always fighting, especially since her daughter had a relationship with an older man.

"The mother was very upset after her daughter failed matric and blamed the failure on the relationship. It was then that she poured boiling water over the girl's legs, severely burning her," she said.

The girl was released from hospital on Sunday.

"The daughter was badly burnt but is now recovering. The mother has been released on R500 bail and the daughter has been placed in the custody of her aunt," said Brink.

The case has been postponed to February 21.

- SAPA