[ad_1]
A young mother allegedly abandoned her children to hang out at local taverns.
- A Mpumalanga mother reportedly abandoned her three children on Sunday to visit local taverns.
- The 21-year-old has yet to return home.
- Concerned neighbors called the police, who placed the children in the care of one of their father.
Police are looking for a 21-year-old mother of three for allegedly abandoning and neglecting her children while hanging out at Shatale taverns near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
According to the police spokesman, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, the woman left the children alone on Sunday.
He said the three children, ages 1, 3 and 5, were left alone in the house after their mother said she was going to buy food.
READ | 118 newborns abandoned in Gauteng public hospitals since early 2020 – health department
Neighbors were concerned when she had not returned after dark.
“Then they called the woman … but she informed them that she was having fun at a local tavern. She too [told] He told them that the children were with their father at home, “Hlathi said.
On Monday, after residents saw the children wandering without their mother, they alerted police.
Phone not answered
Police officers asked neighbors for help with the mother’s contact details, but her cell phone was not answered.
Police have opened a child neglect case and have asked anyone with information about the mother’s whereabouts to come forward. The children have been left in the care of the father of one of them.
Police are looking for Zinhle Mathebula who can help with the investigation.
Anyone who might know his whereabouts or any information about Mathebula should call Detective Sergeant Macro Makwela on 072 613 2576 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Alternatively, clues can be given in the My SAPS application that can be downloaded to any smartphone. Police have said that all information will be treated confidentially and callers can choose to remain anonymous.
The police have condemned the incident and the community has been called upon to take care of their children.
Do you want to know more about this topic? Sign up to receive one of 33 News24 newsletters to receive the information you want in your inbox. There are special newsletters available to subscribers.
