The abuse of women and children in whatever form is a crime and perpetrators must be identified, arrested, found guilty and sentenced.
During last week, the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Gqeberha, through their thorough investigations ensured prison sentences for perpetrators of child abandonment and rape in three separate incidents.
On Friday, 8 April 2022, a 24-year-old Helenvale mother was sentenced to imprisonment for child abandonment after she abandoned her 11-month-old child on a pavement in February 2022. On 2 February 2022, at 13:45, Muriel Kayser left her baby in front of a house in Harry Trichardt Street in Cleary Park.
When a resident came home, she observed movement on the pavement and upon closer inspection, found the baby girl. The child was sun burnt and severely dehydrated.
The FCS Unit in Gqeberha was investigating the case of child abandonment. On 21 February 2022, Detective Sergeant Thabang Shilajoe traced and arrested the mother at her boyfriend’s house in Hartebeest Street in Helenvale.
On 8 April 2022, she was sentenced in the Gqeberha Regional court to 8 years imprisonment of which 3 years was suspended for 5 years. She will serve an effective 5 years in prison.
