POTCHEFSTROOM – A 23-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl appeared separately in the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 23 November 2020, on a charge of assault with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).
The accused were on Thursday, 19 November 2020, warned to appear in court after a 6-weeks-old baby boy in their care was found with bruises on the face and upper body. According to information available at this stage, reports suggest that a member of the public alerted the police about a couple that was allegedly abusing their baby. At the time of the incident, the couple was staying together at Elandsfontein, Brits although the male accused is not the baby’s biological father. The pair was warned to appear again in court on Tuesday, 1 December 2020.
Preliminary investigation into the matter revealed that the accused allegedly started to assault the baby a week after he was born. The baby is currently placed at a local place of safety under the care of social workers.
In another separate incident, Moses Seokane (45) from Jericho village also appeared in the Brits Magistrates’ Court for alleged sexual assault of two of his former employees. It is alleged that the first incident took place on Monday, 26 October 2020, at the accused’s business premises.
It is further alleged that the accused sexually assaulted the second victim at about 15:20 on Sunday, 01 November 2020. The incident allegedly occurred while the victim was travelling with the accused in his car at Jericho. Subsequent to court appearance, the accused was released on R1000-00 bail. He will appear again in court on Wednesday, 10 February 2021. Investigation into both cases continues.
The District Commissioner of Bojanala Platinum Sub-District 1, Major General Modisagaarekwe Mosimanegape condemned both incidents and applauded the Brits Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for bringing to book the alleged perpetrators of crimes against women and children.
Ends
