A foster mother is set to appear in the Muizenberg Magistrates’ Court today, accused of torturing and murdering a nine-month-old baby before burying him in a shallow grave.
The shocking discovery was made by the Vrygrond woman’s sister who piemped her to police, resulting in the arrest of the 40-year-old woman on Monday.
According to a Daily Voice source, the police were contacted on Monday by the sister who revealed that the suspect had beaten the child to death and buried him in a grave on a veldjie.
“The scene in Vrygrond Avenue was cordoned off and a spade was found next to the grave. The child was dead inside a packet.
“The sister told police that she bashed the child to death and the police went to the day hospital after it was revealed that the suspect was seeking treatment for diarrhoea and she was busted in the hospital.”
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi, says cops were called to the scene at 10am.
“Upon digging in the identified vicinity, a plastic bag was recovered in a shallow grave containing the body of a baby boy,” he says.
“The victim, a nine-month-old boy, was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel.
“A 40-year-old woman has been arrested and detained.
“Once charged, she will make a court on a charge of murder.”
The biological grandfather of baby Caswell Joseph Frans says they are shocked and devastated by his murder and are demanding justice.
“My grandson is named after me and was removed from his mother’s care by the social workers at just three months old,” the oupa reveals.
“At the time, we understood because she was on drugs and incapable of looking after the child. This is when the social workers placed him in the care of this woman Priscilla.”
Caswell says in recent months, allegations surfaced that the baby was being abused and the family approached social workers to investigate.
“We heard the child was being beaten and even though the mother was allowed to see the child, she [foster mother] did not allow her access, saying she had TB.”
The emotional oupa says after meeting with detectives, they were informed that baby Caswell was killed three days before his body was discovered and that he had been tortured.
“We were told he was killed on Friday already and we only found out when the constable came to inform my daughter after his body was discovered.
“I went to the police station and they told me that he was beaten to death and his head shoved in water and other stuff.
“We cannot believe that she can be so cruel and we are going to court to demand justice.”