Mum arrested for children slaughtering attempts

GROBLERSDAL

The police in Groblersdal have arrested a 42-year-old woman for two counts of attempted murder. This is after the suspect, whose name is withheld to protect the identity of the victims, allegedly attempted to murder her two children by cutting their throats. The incident took place along the road next to one of the farms in Groblersdal.

“Both children were immediately taken to hospital with neck injuries. The motive for the incident will be determined by the unfolding police investigations,” said Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson.

Ngoepe said the woman appeared before the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 25 February and will be appearing again soon, pending police investigations for formal bail application.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has strongly condemned the incident and urged communities to desist from resorting to violence and seek professional help when dealing with challenges.

However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province lambasted the police for failing to respond to the scene of the incident.

“The DA has requested an urgent investigation from Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police, General Jan Scheepers, into the failure of the Groblersdal SAPS to provide effective assistance to the minor victims of a family violence incident reported in the station,” said Katlego Suzan Phala, DA Provincial Spokesperson on Community Safety.

Phala said the party seeks an explanation in their gross dereliction of duties in Groblersdal family violence.

“It is reported that at 03:00, a security guard was alerted by a screaming child. Upon closer inspection the guard found and bloodied 8-year-old and an infant and saw their mother throwing a knife into the bushes. The SAPS were called out, but the caller was informed that there were no vehicles to respond to a callout,” explained Phala.

Phala indicated that although the DA is saddened by such a tragic turn of events, they are very concerned at the lack of immediate response by SAPS.

“It is unacceptable that a police station such as Groblersdal does not have vehicles available to attend an incident involving minor victims,” she said.

She stated that the DA submitted questions for written response to the MEC for Community safety, Mavhungu-Lerule Ramakhanya in 2012, to ascertain the number vehicles allocated to Limpopo SAPS per station and the state of roadworthiness these vehicles were in, but no response has been received.

“We are now insisting on transparency regarding the number of police vehicles in our province and call on MEC Ramakhanya to provide the information requested. We further request Acting Commissioner Scheepers to prioritize this investigation and to institute disciplinary action against any members found to be negligent,” she added.

Phala stressed that the party will pressure the SAPS to get serious about protecting the most vulnerable in our society and they will relent until this investigation is finalized.

In response to the DA, Brigadier Mojapelo said the police management conducting internal investigations after receiving the allegations that the police failed to respond quickly when the incident was reported and appropriate steps will be taken if the allegations are proved to be correct.