Case Against A Couple Charged With Murder Set For High Court

A couple appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on a charge of murder and five of contravening the Children’s Act, following the death of their four-month-old baby who allegedly died of complications of malnutrition. Their case was postponed to 11 March 2022 for a high court date.

Advocate Riekie Kraus registered the state’s intention to transfer the matter to the High Court of South Africa; the North West Division. The state is expected to serve the accused with an indictment and a bail court date will be decided following that process.

Seun Joubert (44) and Isabelle Francis (35) from Alabama near Klerksdorp are said to have stayed together for 15 years and have two boys aged 2 and 5, as well as two girls aged 8 and 13. It is alleged that in May 2021, Francis was arrested for assaulting her two-year-old boy but was later released as she breastfeeding the deceased at the time. Police reported the incident to the North West Department of Social Development for social workers to intervene and that intervention led to the four kids being placed under the care of their maternal grandmother.

In September 2021, Francis was arrested again for assaulting her 13-year-old daughter at her mother’s house. She allegedly hit her with clenched fists, kicked her before throwing her on the ground and stomping her afterwards. She went on to assault her mother. Police investigations into this assault led them to a discovery of the four-month-old baby having died on 13 August 2021 in Klerksdorp hospital. This information was declared by Leon Francis, the uncle to Isabelle Francis. These investigations further discovered that in June 2021 Francis forcefully took back her two sons from her mother to stay with her and Jourbert. The uncle alleges to have reported this incident to the designated social worker, who in turn promised to do house visits to the accused.

A report received from the social worker indicates that on 09 August 2021 when he took some groceries to the house of the accused, he found the two-year-old boy in a bad state of health, with sores all over his face. He then went back the following day and to his shock, the couple had left the four-month-old baby by herself, lying on the bed without a blanket. The report further states the baby looked emaciated, the social worker then rushed to collect his wife to assist him with the baby before taking her home with them.

On 10 August 2021, the social worker and his wife took the baby to Klerksdorp hospital where she was immediately admitted but sadly died three days later and the attending paediatrician confirmed that she died of complications of malnutrition. Police investigations and an assessment of two of the children by forensic social workers have been completed.

Francis and Joubert were arrested in September and October 2021 respectively and were both charged with murder and five other counts. The court has denied them bail and will remain in custody until the completion of the trial.

Ends.

Enquiries:
Henry Mamothame
NPA Spokesperson
NW Division
082 317 5731
hmamothame@npa.gov.za