Verulam Incident: Mother Allegedly Abandons Child to Join Lobola Negotiations

VERULAM, KWAZULU-NATAL — South Africans criticized a woman from Verulam in KwaZulu-Natal who left her child to go to lobola negotiations. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the woman abandoned her two-year-old child in the Verulam CBD with two vendors she was accustomed to talking to while shopping in the CBD. The mother asked if she could leave her child in the stalls for a short period.

When the vendors closed shop, the mother had still not returned. They called her out of concern, and were astonished when she told them that she was on her way to Hluhluwe in the northern parts of the province with her new boyfriend to negotiate lobola. They contacted her hours later, and she said that she was in another part of the province. She then switched her phone off.

The mother returned two days later and arrived at the offices of RUSA. She confessed that she had drunk alcohol and had become intoxicated while in Hluhluwe. However, when she asked for her child, she was referred to the South African Police Service.

A KZN woman abandoned her child. Image: fizkes Source: Getty Images

Woman accused of negligence

Recently, a mother from Newclare in Johannesburg went viral after she and three of her associates made her four-year-old son smoke a pipe of drugs. The incident was recorded on camera, and it sparked widespread outrage.

She was arrested and appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court, charged with attempted murder and child abuse. She was remanded and is set to apply for bail.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on Facebook condemned the mother’s actions. Sthabiso Bohlela said: “For years, mothers have left their babies behind to marry other men and go on to live a comfortable life in marriage without their children.” Samie Jolarh said: “Take her to social workers because Sne doesn’t deserve to be a mother.”

Leslie Nelson said: “How could a mother be so cruel? The Lord will protect the little angel.” Sean Ramlall said: “The vendors are heroes for safeguarding this child, because child abuse and child murders have become the norm in SA.” George Raphael said: “Somehow, somewhere, someone is struggling to have a child while those who are fertile do not appreciate the blessing.”