Pretoria - A young mother facing charges relating to the attempted murder of her daughter, has been moved to a separate cell after an attempt was allegedly made on her life.
Relatives of the 20-year-old woman say she is living in fear after she received several death treats from inside and outside prison.
The mother of the two-year-old toddler, known as Baby L, was moved to Pretoria Central Prison (New Lock) on Monday after an emotional first appearance in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court.
She and her 36-year-old partner were arrested on Saturday at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital where her daughter has been treated since last Monday for critical injuries, believed to be at the hands of her mother’s partner.
On Wednesday the mother’s relatives told the Pretoria News that the young woman had been moved into a single cell after an apparent attempt to poison her.
The family is blaming inaccurate information published on social media sites.
“We’re not sure of all the details but just after my mother visited her, she received a call to say there was a lot of drama in the cells because someone had tried to poison my sister.
My sister was at work when all this happened and he (the partner) kept making up stories about how Baby L got the injuries,” her sister said. The family may not be identified to protect the child’s identity.
Baby L’s grandmother also said she feared for the safety of her daughter. “My daughter was not a bad mother.
“There was a problem with Baby L on the Friday before the Monday that she took her to hospital. Doctors could not find or see anything wrong.
“We’ve heard that her partner allegedly abused his ex-wife. Everything is just very deurmekaar(mixed-up),” the grandmother said.
The family claims that life has become unbearable for Baby L’s mother and for the rest of the family. “People are saying she was a bad mother that’s why this happened and now she must be punished.
“That’s not true, my sister was a good mother and she did everything on her own. She did her best for that child despite the odds and the little money she had,” the sister said.
Correctional Services could not be reached at the time of going to press.
Meanwhile Baby L has been making progress. On Wednesday her father, who has been at her bedside since she was admitted to hospital, said she was moving her arms.
“There has been very little improvement but every bit is a step in the right direction.
“We can only continue praying for her,” he said.
The young mother and her partner are expected back in court next week.
Pretoria News