Mother Sentenced To Direct Imprisonment While Severely Abused Child Makes A Miraculous Recovery

A mother has been sentenced to direct imprisonment, while her five months old child who was badly abused, has fully recovered, is now 8 years old, and has started Grade two at school. The Bellville Regional Court has sentenced Ntombentsha Qeqe, to effective 8-year imprisonment, after ordering some sentences run concurrently. Qeqe and her boyfriend, Anayo Obusi, were charged with child abuse, attempted murder, and failure to obtain medical attention for their biological son.

The prosecutor Zurena Ganief-Geswindt, says evidence proved that the mother who was the primary caregiver of the child, was the one who inflicted the injuries. She was alone with the child throughout the day when Obusi went to work. Obusi passed away during the trial., The victim was seen by doctors at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

It was then established, that the infant had multiple fractured ribs, femur fractures and severe brain injuries. The injuries were of different healing stages,and therefore indicative of multiple assaults on him.

Professor Van As, of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, testified that the injuries were potentially fatal, and it was miraculous that he survived as he had 3 brain bleeds. He further stated that children with one brain bleed seldom survive. He said the fractured ribs were broken in the front and back of the chest.

Ganief-Geswindt said the fractures being at different stages of healing was medically indicative that the injuries were sustained on different occasionsand therefore ongoing chronic physical abuse. At the time the infant of 5 months weighed a mere 5.9 kg and was not reaching his developmental milestones. He suffered immense pain according to medical professionals.Amazingly, he survived all the injuries. This outcome is a victory for the NPA,considering the increasing number of this type of cases.

Qeqe was sentenced to four years imprisonment for child abuse, 8 years imprisonment for attempted murder and two years imprisonment for failure to obtain medical attention for their biological son. The sentences are to be served concurrently.

Issued by:

Eric Ntabazalila

National Prosecuting Authority

Regional Communications Manager

Western Cape

Tel: (021) 487 7308Mobile: 073 062 1222

Email: entabazalila@npa.gov.za