A mother accused of going overboard while disciplining her nine-year-old son was this week granted bail by Maun Magistrate, Chandapiwa Molefi.
Charged with a single count of cruel punishment to a child, a crime which attracts a ten-year sentence, the accused Monica Mabanda was arraigned on Tuesday morning.
Mabanda’s troubles dates back to February 28th when she allegedly whacked her son on the back with a stick at their home in Boseja Ward, Maun.
On that fateful day, the 33-year-old accused is said to have further burnt her son’s hands with a melted hot plastic after the cruel beating.
State prosecutor, Kelebogile Tumaeletse asked for the accused to be granted bail under the conditions that she reports herself to Maun Police Station once every month, appear before court whenever she is needed and that she does not interfere with the state witnesses.
Magistrate Molefi subsequently granted Mabanda bail under the given conditions further stressing that the terms for her freedom included binding herself with the sum of P500. Failure to do so the magistrate called for the accused to be further remanded in prison.
Asked if she had something to say, Mabanda complained that she had been unable to communicate with her child who is also the complaint in this case as the current custodian being her brother does not permit a conversation between the them.
She claimed that when she calls her brother and plead to talk to her son, the brother quickly cuts the call and only calls her back month-end, seeking for financial help.
In response, Magistrate Chandapiwa Molefi ordered the social worker dealing with the matter to sort out the issue between the accused and her brother and arrange for a proper communication channel between the mother and son accordingly.
The accused’s three other children are said to have been taken to different shelters where Mabanda will be allowed to visit them in the presence of a social worker. The 33-year-old accused will appear again for mention before the Maun Magistrate Court on the 20th of May 2025.
