Qacha’s Nek, Aug.07 — Magistrate Ts’eliso Bale of Qacha’sNek Magistrate Court has granted a 35-year-old woman who is a survivor of human trafficking free bail.
The survivor is charged with contravention of Child Protection and Welfare Act (CPWA), 2011 section 44 (1) on that she unlawfully left the children (a girl and a boy) at night subjecting them to physical and psychological risk.
She was told not to interfere with state witnesses, not to defeat the ends of justice police investigations, attend remands and stand trial to finality.
Counsellor Palesa DaSilva said child negligence is interlinked with abuse as children’s fundamental rights are violated as their basic needs are not catered for.
“Children need security and a sense of belonging to either of their relatives, ” she said.
She said the maltreatment impacts badly on children as they end up being isolated.
She said there is a need for awareness raising to curb the issue.
Section 44 (1) of the CPWA states that a person who abuses, neglects, abandons or exposes a child in a manner likely to cause the child physical, psychological or emotional injury or causes commitment of offence and is liable on conviction or to imprisonment.
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