LIVE-IN LOVER IN DOCK FOR MURDER OF CHILD

Boy likely raped then strangled

A 32-year-old mother yesterday relived the day she learned that her six-yearold son was allegedly killed by her live-in lover.

Brenda Mapunganyika’s boyfriend, Mowson Patala, 26, is accused of murder and rape in the South Gauteng High Court sitting in Palmridge Magistrate’s Court.

He allegedly raped and throttled Nyasha Roy Chifambo on March 8.

Patala then bathed him and placed him on the bed before he called an ambulance. He also called Mapunganyika, who was at work, and told her that the child was sick. They eventually took the child to hospital in a taxi.

Mapunganyika said she last saw her son alive when she left for work leaving him in the care of Patala.

“I was leaving for work and he was still sleeping. I kissed him, and said goodbye. He was okay when I left him,” she said.

Mapunganyika then broke down and cried, prompting Judge Oupa Gibson Ngobeni to adjourn for about five minutes.

After the break, Judge Ngobeni kindly asked her to compose herself.

“I understand that before we adjourned you were asked questions that did not sit well with you and I could see that it was hard for you to relate what had happened. I would like you to please compose yourself,” he said.

She told the court that she had been in a relationship with Patala for two years and he had been looking after her son for about a month while she was at work as a domestic worker.

She said Chifambo was declared dead on arrival at Tembisa hospital.

“The doctor called me in and lifted his clothes and revealed bruises all over his body and on his cheek. The doctor said the child was assaulted,” she said.

Mapunganyika said the doctor asked her boyfriend about the bruises and substances that appeared to be pieces of bottles in the child’s anus.

“Patala said the bruises occurred when he tried to give him CPR. He said (the) substances were not bottles but salt that he had rubbed all over his body. The doctor said the child was strangled because he had nail (marks) on his neck,” she said.

In his defence through his lawyer Patala said the bruises occurred when he tried to give the child CPR.

Dr Lilliana Lulli, who examined the child at the hospital, said she could not find evidence of an attempt to conduct CPR. She said she found extensive bruising on the buttocks. She said the skin on the anus was normally tight but in this case it was loose and had cracks.

Forensic pathologist Dr Sajida Medar said the child had multiple bruises on his body and had injuries on the anus, possibly caused by an erect penis.