Young mother sentenced after newborn found in pit toilet
Tragic case in Hluhluwe: A 21-year-old woman sentenced to 12 years for the murder of her newborn, raising important questions about maternal support and the justice system.
Image: supplied
THE Mtubatuba Regional Court has sentenced a 21-year-old woman to 12 years in jail for the murder of her newborn baby.
The woman from Hluhluwe had given birth in August 2024 and dumped her baby into a pit toilet.
The court deviated from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment, citing the youth of the accused and the fact that she has another minor child.
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said the accused was pregnant, and on the day of the incident she had visited the outside pit toilet several times.
"At some stage, her mother noticed that she (the accused) was bleeding and asked her if she was ok. However, she dismissed her mother’s concerns," says Ramkisson-Kara.
Ramkisson-Kara added that the mother of the woman then arranged for her to be taken to the hospital. While she was away, relatives heard noises coming from the pit toilet but assumed it was one of the pets.
She said that the hospital staff later contacted the family, asking them to check where the baby had been left, as the newborn was not at the hospital.
The family broke down the pit toilet structure and found the newborn inside.
In court, prosecutor Sphelele Precious Mdluli led the evidence of the accused’s mother.
"The pathologist confirmed that the baby was full-term and had lived before being thrown into the toilet. The accused was convicted and sentenced accordingly," added Ramkisson-Kara
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) hopes that sentences of this nature will deter like-minded people.