BLOEMFONTEIN MOTHER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ASSAULT AND NEGLECT OF MINOR CHILDREN
05 FEBRUARY 2026
BLOEMFONTEIN MOTHER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR ASSAULT AND NEGLECT OF MINOR CHILDREN
Bloemfontein, Free State – A 34-year-old Bloemfontein woman has been sentenced to an effective 10 years’ direct imprisonment by the Bloemfontein Regional Court after pleading guilty to multiple counts of assault and child neglect involving her minor children. The matter was prosecuted in the Bloemfontein Regional Court, where the accused admitted to all the charges preferred against her.
The court heard that in September 2024, the accused became enraged after discovering that her nine-year-old daughter had wet her bed while sleeping. She instructed the child to take a bath and, while the child was bathing, forcibly pushed her head under the water on several occasions and assaulted her with a belt. This conduct exposed the child to serious physical harm and posed a significant risk to her life. During the same month, the accused also assaulted her six-year-old daughter following a report from the school that the child had arrived late and was seen speaking to a stranger. In response, the accused became angry and assaulted the child by repeatedly slapping her with open hands. In addition to the assaults, the accused pleaded guilty to child neglect, having failed to provide adequate food for her minor children, in contravention of section 305(4) of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.
The accused was sentenced as follows: Assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH): 10 years’ imprisonment, Assault: 3 years’ imprisonment and Child neglect (section 305(4) of Act 38 of 2005): 3 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that the sentences imposed on counts two and three run concurrently with the sentence on count one. The accused was therefore effectively sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. The State was represented by Regional Court Prosecutor Ronel Botha during the plea and sentencing proceedings.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomes the sentence and reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of society, particularly children. The NPA remains resolute in its fight against gender-based violence, child abuse, and neglect, and will continue to ensure that perpetrators of crimes against children and other vulnerable persons are held fully accountable. Crimes against children strike at the heart of their constitutional rights to dignity, safety, and life.
Issued by:
Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Free State Division
073 423 3539