A Molepolole woman who admitted to spiking her seven-months-old son’s milk with toxic cattle dip has been remanded in custody to await assessment by a psychologist.
According to the charge sheet, 22- year-old Morongwa Dudu Lemogang on April 6th, 2023 at Tlapeng lands in Kweneng District attempted to kill her son by feeding him milk mixed with Eraditick dip, a substance she knew to be poisonous.
Though the incident occurred on April 6th, it was reported before the police six days later after the boy’s 50-year-old grandmother smelled livestock dip on the milk feeding bottle while preparing him for hospital checkup.
Upon questioning her daughter, she allegedly burst into tears and admitted to have poured dip on her son’s milk.
It is alleged that earlier on April 6th, the little boy felt sick, vomiting blood and his grandmother took him to Losilakgokong Clinic where he was treated and discharged without knowledge that he drank poisoned milk.
Meanwhile, the investigating officer Detective Sergeant Selelo Marole, explained before court that during questioning, Lemogang told them that she wanted to kill the child because the father had abandoned them.
She allegedly also mentioned that her baby’s father had also refused to give her his Omang card to register him as the biological father on the child’s birth certificate.
Detective Sergeant Marole further revealed the background of Lemogang’ family, noting that she was born in a family of 14 and that they originate from Molepolole, Lekgwapheng ward and do not have a place to stay except at Tlapeng lands, about 5 kilometres from Losilakgokong.
“I am applying for the accused not to be granted bail on the basis that she is staying with her minor children in the same yard. The baby is bottle feeding and I have made arrangements with the Social Welfare Office to provide the child with milk. The accused also revealed during counselling that she also tried to kill her first born child,” explained the cop.
He further said granting Lemogang bail would jeopardise investigations and accord her the opportunity to accomplish her mission to kill the child.
“Also my duty as a police officer is to protect the people and property. The accused is undergoing counselling with a psychologist at Scottish Livingstone Hospital who also indicated that she’s not ready to be given the child. She still has to go through several counselling sessions and the psychology department have engaged the social worker to assist the whole family,” noted Detective Sergeant Marole.
Magistrate Keabetswe Majuta asked the IO to explain why he thought denying the accused access to her child will be the solution since they have been staying together after the alleged offence.
He further suggested to the IO that the child was in custody of the grandmother all the time hence denying the mother the chance to get closer to her.
In response, Detective Marole told court that the grandmother had also complained that she was unable to do house chores because the baby needed her attention all the time.
When given the chance to question the IO, Lemogang disputed the police arguments. “I intentionally tried killing the child but it got out of my mind. I was always with my son while my mother was away drinking traditional beer at the depots. I was the only one who knew the secret and my mother only realised after she saw the substance on the child’s milk bottle. If the social workers indicated that I wanted to kill my first born child, it is a big lie,” said the outspoken Lemogang, further noting that during her last counselling session on Monday she was told that she was fit to stay with the child and that she should attend the next session on May 5th, 2023.
In his response, Detective Marole said they were still waiting for the medical report regarding the accused’s fitness to stay with the victim.
When Magistrate Majuta postponed the matter to be called on Wednesday for the social worker to address the court, the social worker pleaded to be given time to consult the psychologist to assess if the accused was fit to stay with the child.
Lemogang was remanded in custody awaiting the social workers update to the court.
She will appear for mention on May 2nd, 2023.