ONDANGWA – Besides being allegedly hit with a belt buckle and had a knife thrown at her, a 10-year-old girl was allegedly recently burnt with boiling water by her stepmother after forgetting to switch of a geyser.
The alleged incident happened on September 16 at a residence in Ondangwa, which the victim shares with her stepmother, 36-year-old Pafunisia Mwadhina Josua, and her father.
As a result, the victim is now nursing open wounds all over her body, with her clothes alleged to be sticking to the oozing wounds.
Although she has been discharged after being hospitalised for a few days at the Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital, the victim now frequents the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital to dress the wounds.
In addition to the recent incident, those close to the family allege that the abuse dates back to 2015.
The victim is allegedly frequently beaten with a belt buckle and was allegedly on one incident struck by a knife after Josua threw it in her direction.
“That poor girl will live to tell the tales of the abuse she endured. One doesn’t even need to ask, the marks on her body speak for themselves,” said a source.
Josua was denied bail when she made her first appearance at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
She appeared before Magistrate Toini Shilongo.
Josua faces a charge of assault with intend to do grievous bodily harm, read with the provision of Domestic Violence Act. Her case was remanded to October 9 for formal bail application.
State Prosecutor Veziruapi Hindjou objected to Josua being granted bail pending the finalisation of the investigation.
Hindjou further informed the court that it was not in the public’s interest for the accused to be granted bail.
According to the information gathered, the victim allegedly switched on the geyser after Josua, who was not at home at the time, instructed her to bath herself and her younger sibling.
Although the child is since receiving treatment, New Era understands that both the father and Josua did not attempt to take her to the hospital.
She was allegedly taken to the hospital on the second day after the incident when the matter was reported to the authorities.
New Era further understands that the father was allegedly concealing contact details of the victim’s biological mother from authorities.
After intervention by, amongst others, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, the pre-grader has since been relocated to live with her paternal grandmother, New Era has established.
The victim has also been moved to another school as she was schooling at the same school where her stepmother is teaching.