Pietermaritzburg - A young mother who admitted to stabbing her seven-month-old baby to death was sentenced to in effect six years' jail by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday.
Nompumelelo Nyati, 18, told the court that after the government child allowance of R300 did not arrive for three months her dysfunctional family abused her.
She killed the baby shortly after the father's family refused to care for the baby. She told the family she could not look after another child.
Judge Thoba Poyo Dlwati said Nyati's conduct would not be tolerated as children should be loved and cared for.
If people in Nyati's position were not able to care for a child they should take it to an agency that would. However, she found substantial and compelling circumstances for Nyati to receive a lesser sentence.
Dlwati was sentenced to 10 years in prison, four years of which were suspended.
The circumstances were that Nyati pleaded guilty, showed remorse, was young and did not have a good relationship with her dysfunctional family.
The judge said that the murder was not premeditated and Nyati was a candidate for rehabilitation.
Dlwati said she hoped Nyati would reconstruct her life and use the prison rehabilitation facilities.
Sapa