The SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the North West on Saturday called for justice to be served on a man alleged to have fatally beaten his girlfriend's daughter after she wet herself while sleeping.
The child was 5-years-old.
"There is no justification for such a horrendous and an outrageous act that has robbed an innocent child of her life in what was supposed to be a safe environment. We are calling for a stiff sentence for the alleged 29-year-old perpetrator to serve as a deterrent," said Sanco provincial chairperson, Paul Sebegoe.
Police said the little girl had been asleep on a couch made up for her as a bed in Boitumelong, Bloemhof, on Wednesday, when her mother's boyfriend saw she had wet herself and the urine had gone into the couch.
''He became frustrated and started hitting her with a belt,'' Sergeant Kelebogile Moleko said.
He allegedly tied her to a support structure in the house, lashed her, untied her, and threw her to the floor. When the mother tried to intervene she too was assaulted.
Police and paramedics were called but found she had been too severely injured. The child was declared dead on the scene.
Sebegoe called on communities to act against child abuse.
"Early detection will protect children who are lately victimised as a result of domestic disputes, conflicts between feuding couples as well as abusive partners," Sebegoe said.
The man is in police custody and is expected to appear in the Bloemhof Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Source: News24
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