A youthful mother who could not get a relative to sign for her bail, broke down in tears before a Molepolole Magistrates’ court praying for court to vary her bail conditions to be allowed to sign for herself.
33- year-old Gofaone Korae who is facing a charge of neglect of children has been in custody since September 22nd last year.
State prosecutor, Inspector Thema Marumolo, opposed Korae’s plea, noting that she was an elusive character who could not be trusted.
“The accused abandoned her children for so long staying in Gaborone and she was very difficult to find. She cannot be trusted. Imagine your worship, even her own relatives are refusing to sign bail for her,” explained Marumolo before Magistrate Solomon Setshedi reminded him that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The social worker, Batlhalosang Pitso, however agreed with the prosecutor that Korae is not trustworthy since she never went to visit her children and that they had a difficult challenge of locating her.
“Even where she stayed at Old Naledi, the police couldn’t find her, she was later found in Maruapula with the help of members of the public,” added Pitso.
In her defence, Korae disclosed that she has long relocated from Old Naledi and that she did not have a phone to communicate.
She told court that she stays with her boyfriend who was once rejected by court employees while trying to sign for her bail as they told him they needed a relative.
With her face mask soaking in her tears, and her nose running incessantly from her emotions, Korae’s plea moved Magistrate Setshedi enough to allow the accused’s boyfriend to sign for her bail.
Interviewed after court, Korae’s fed up 65-year-old mother who did not want her names published, told of how she had suffered with her grandchildren since 2021 while their mother was nowhere to be found.
“I stay with the two boys aged 10 and 12. I reported the matter to the social workers to assist after I found it difficult to locate their mother. I work for Ipelegeng programme and whatever I get I have to share with the children. There are no jobs but she could be running around to hustle for her children and make sure they eat and wear just like other young mothers.”
“Yes I had refused to sign for her bail though my siblings begged me to forgive her, I really suffered,” sadly admitted the mother, her voice lowering in an emotional expression.
Korae was remanded in custody till she finds someone to sign for her bail. Her next mention is on February 20th, 2023.
