Court charges woman for failing to report sexual assault of minor (4)

JOHANNESBURG - The Protea Magistrates Court has charged a woman for failing to report the sexual assault of her four-year-old child.

Initially, she was charged with defeating the ends of justice after police learnt she knew that her child was being physically abused by her father.

Police found the child with severe injuries on Wednesday in their Eldorado Park home.

On Friday, she died from her injuries while in hospital.

The victim’s father faces charges including murder, rape, compelled rape, child abuse and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The two appeared separately, and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mojonodwana explained.

“You will recall that the two accused appeared before the court; however, as the NPA, we decided to separate them because we don’t have sufficient evidence that suggests that the alleged offences were done jointly.”