News / Africa
Mum sells baby for R4,000, spends money on booze
05 Aug 2014 at 07:02hrs | Views
A 34-year-old woman from Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, SA, has confessed to selling her baby for R4 000.
She told local chief, Richard Mdlalose, that her six-month-old baby boy was allegedly in the custody of Nomsa Khumalo (25), in Bergville, KZN.
"We had nowhere to stay and we spent many nights sleeping in the veld so I decided to sell my child for R4 000," she told the chief.
Mdlalose asked her what she did with the money.
"I bought booze. I have too much stress in my life. All I wanted was to forget my troubles."
She said she sold her son because she wants the best for him and wants him to get love and attention. "I know what I did was wrong and I feel guilty about it," she said.
But Sbongile Mokoena, a neighbour, said the child's mother has just been having a good time.
"She's been drinking and dancing in the local tavern as if she has no kids," she said.
"She's been spending money and buying booze as if she has no responsibilities. We didn't know where the money came from but now we know she sold her son so she could buy booze."
Sbongile said the child must be brought back to the woman's family so they can take care of him. "This is an evil woman," she said.
The woman's aunt said she was under the impression the child was with his mother and father in Katlehong.
"She has disgraced our family," said the aunt.
"She should have taken the baby to her grandmother at KwaNongoma in KZN. We already support the other three children. Now the boy is in the hands of strangers."
Nomsa Khumalo denied buying the baby.
"I took the baby because I saw the mother and child were suffering and sleeping in the veld. My arrangement was that I would keep the child until his mother had sorted out a place to stay," she said.
She said she will look for the mother's family to return the child.
"I regret helping her. I was practising ubuntu but now people accuse me of being a thief."
While the mother told Daily Sun the baby went to Nomsa in June, a neighbour has claimed that the baby was only sold last Tuesday.
Katlehong police spokesman Captain Mega Ndobe said a case of child neglect has been opened.
He said the mother of the baby has been arrested and will appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court today.
She told local chief, Richard Mdlalose, that her six-month-old baby boy was allegedly in the custody of Nomsa Khumalo (25), in Bergville, KZN.
"We had nowhere to stay and we spent many nights sleeping in the veld so I decided to sell my child for R4 000," she told the chief.
Mdlalose asked her what she did with the money.
"I bought booze. I have too much stress in my life. All I wanted was to forget my troubles."
She said she sold her son because she wants the best for him and wants him to get love and attention. "I know what I did was wrong and I feel guilty about it," she said.
But Sbongile Mokoena, a neighbour, said the child's mother has just been having a good time.
"She's been drinking and dancing in the local tavern as if she has no kids," she said.
"She's been spending money and buying booze as if she has no responsibilities. We didn't know where the money came from but now we know she sold her son so she could buy booze."
Sbongile said the child must be brought back to the woman's family so they can take care of him. "This is an evil woman," she said.
"She has disgraced our family," said the aunt.
"She should have taken the baby to her grandmother at KwaNongoma in KZN. We already support the other three children. Now the boy is in the hands of strangers."
Nomsa Khumalo denied buying the baby.
"I took the baby because I saw the mother and child were suffering and sleeping in the veld. My arrangement was that I would keep the child until his mother had sorted out a place to stay," she said.
She said she will look for the mother's family to return the child.
"I regret helping her. I was practising ubuntu but now people accuse me of being a thief."
While the mother told Daily Sun the baby went to Nomsa in June, a neighbour has claimed that the baby was only sold last Tuesday.
Katlehong police spokesman Captain Mega Ndobe said a case of child neglect has been opened.
He said the mother of the baby has been arrested and will appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court today.
Source - Dailysun
