'It was because of my child'
2008-01-02 21:21
Nelspruit - A woman whose daughter has just passed matric was convicted on Wednesday for stealing groceries for when her child goes to college.
Gugulethu Ngomane (44) of Newscom near KaBokweni pleaded guilty to theft when she appeared in the Nelspruit magistrate's court.
She confessed to stealing groceries worth R139.89 from Shoprite-Checkers at the Riverside Mall on Monday.
The groceries included three cans of beef, 1.5kg of atchar, 1kg of mayonnaise and 1kg of quality sweets.
Wearing a large hat, she testified that she stole the groceries for her 19-year-old daughter, who will be leaving home to do a paramedics course at the Mlumati Further Education And Training (FET) College in Kamhlushwa near the Swaziland border this year.
'Precious gift'
She said she hadn't wanted to tell her daughter that she couldn't afford to buy her food.
She described her daughter as a "precious gift" who had also impressed her teachers.
"My husband died in 2005 and I hope, if he was alive, he, too, would be happy that she passed," Ngomane said.
She apologised for her actions and, looking up to the ceiling, said: "Oh, my God! Forgive me because it was because of my child."
A relative paid her bail of R300 and she will be sentenced on January 24.