Child negligence an offence-warns police
Following a string of children’s deaths suspected to have been caused by child negligence, the police have issued a stern warning to parents and guardians who neglect children.
Members of the public have been calling for stiffer sentences for perpetrators of child negligence across social media platforms labelling it as an abuse of the innocent souls. This incidents and accidents, which claimed children’s lives, were suspected to have occurred due to child negligence.
Recently Mmegi published a story in which a seven-year-old boy drowned in a septic tank full of waste water at a home in Oodi. On the fateful day, the little boy’s mother had just left the deceased with his five-year-old cousin watching TV for a short while at home to find out something from the neighbours only to find his son dead.
Last year November, two toddlers died after suffocating in an old car that was parked a stone’s throw away from their home in Oodi. The two toddlers were left in the care of their 19-year-old sister as their parents had left for work.
On December 28, 2022 Mmegi also reported a tragic incident in which a six-year-old girl died after she fell from a moving car in Jwaneng. Then, the little girl was in company of her parents who were in front of car while she was alone alone at the back. The baby girl allegedly fell after their Land Cruiser vehicle hit bumps and unfortunately got hit by the trailer the car was pulling and lost her life. This publication also covered a story this week in which a five-year-old boy who had been missing for days was found floating on water lifeless about 12km away from Tutume after he was left alone at home. Then, the little boy was allegedly left alone by her 18-year-old sister who went shopping at the village mall.
Also this week, Tshesebe police confirmed to Mmegi a drowning incident in which an 18-year-old boy of Themashanga whilst swimming with his friends. According to the police, the teenager was accompanied by seven boys aged between seven and 18 years who were swimming in the river prior to the devastating incident. “We always encourage parents to take care of their children during the rainy season in order to avoid such incidents from happening,”
Tshesebe Police Station Commander, Mothusi Padi advised.
Quizzed more on the incidents, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube said they are worried by strings of incidents which continue to claim innocent souls. He said lives are lost due to what could be labelled as negligence of parents.
Motube stated that child negligence is a punishable offence and should be taken seriously as physical or sexual abuse because most of these cases usually lead to deaths.
“We are concerned by these escalating cases of negligence. Parents should know that child negligence is an offence punishable by the law and we will continue to enforce child care through the Children’s Act,” he said.
Motube further said child negligence is perpetrated by young parents who have the habit of abandoning their children with their ill and old parents in the village. Asked how they respond to child negligence cases, he revealed that they have been publicising parents who neglect their children on BPS Facebook page and such parents were fined with imprisonment.
Motube said parents have been neglecting their children for years and it is not a new thing and as the police they have been pleading and sensetising parents on child care, abuse and negligence but their efforts continue to fall on deaf ears. “Children have drowned, sustained serious body injuries from falls and got burnt just to mention but a few. These incidents occurred as a result of negligence on their parents’ part and sadly they continue to persist despite our efforts. Not taking care of children is a form of abuse from parents and we will continue to charge parents who are failing to provide care to their kids,” Motube said.
Motube further stated that young parents have the habit of leaving their children with their parents who are no longer energetic and capable of taking care of children.
“Children are left with older people who are economically, socially and financially challenged and as a result such parents will fail to give enough care to those children and will be subjected to accidents and health issues due to not getting enough care. I am pleading with parents especially, young parents, to make it part of their responsibility to ensure that their children are given the care they deserve,” he said.