Horror lay behind THAT door
Guilty verdict for mother of Baby X is welcomed
anelisa.kubheka@inl.co.za FROM the outside it looks like an unassuming house, with a neatly kept front lawn and yard.
But few knew the home was a world of torment for 3-year-old Baby X, who was carried out of it in a tiny body bag after enduring continuous torture and abuse at the hands of her mother and grandmother.
The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News, visited the pink house nestled between two double-storey homes, which has been vacant since that fateful day in November 2014.
An old double bed lay by the kitchen door, which had a burglar guard. The door had not been opened in a while.
At the back of the house, there were signs of a life once lived, with shoes still outside and an old cot near a broken bedroom window.
Baby X was one of three children (she was not named to protect the identities of her siblings, who were also abused) and had been in the foster care of her grandmother enduring abuse, starvation and torture.
The grandmother died in custody during the trial in April, while the child’s mother was found guilty last week of her murder in the Durban High Court.
A man who grew up with Baby X’s grandmother called for the mother to be handed the maximum sentence.
Community activist Kem Inderjith said a life sentence was only appropriate for the mother.
“I feel sad that the grandmother died, because in a way she escaped justice.”
He said Baby X’s death should be viewed as a lesson for communities.
“The community of Havenside, as well as surrounding ones, played an integral part in ensuring that the mother and grandmother did not get bail,” he said.
Inderjith said the community reported the abuse of the child to the authorities, but nothing was done.
“Other communities who see things like this happening to children should make a concerted effort in contacting the relevant authorities to help abused children.”
His wife, Vishali, said as a mother she felt torn inside by what had happened to Baby X.
“I have children as well and while Baby X was not my own child, I felt her pain.”
Brandon Pillay, a former councillor in Havenside, said he was relieved by the verdict because he had feared the mother would be set free after pinning the blame for the child’s death on the grandmother.
“I’m pleased with the justice system for giving this verdict. It means her death was not in vain.”
Jackie Branfield, of children’s rights advocacy group Bobbi Bear, also welcomed the verdict.
Childline’s Adeshni Naicker applauded the justice system.
“Sadly, it doesn’t bring back Baby X, but it sends out a strong message to people, especially caregivers, who believe that corporal punishment is not abuse.”