Mother helps daughter abort

Melody Baya Court Reporter
A WOMAN from Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb allegedly helped her daughter to terminate her six month pregnancy and helped her dispose of the foetus in a sewage pond after stashing it in a plastic bag. Nompilo Bhebhe, 36, and her daughter Simphiwe, 18, were jointly charged with unlawful termination of pregnancy.

Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso heard the police recovered the remains of the foetus at the sewer pond after they interrogated Simphiwe and her mother.

An anonymous caller alerted the police, leading to the duo’s arrest, the court heard.

Nompilo allegedly gave her daughter a pill to abort the pregnancy.

Simphiwe and her mother pleaded guilty to the charge.

“I admit the charges being levelled against me. I terminated the pregnancy because I wasn’t going to be able to keep the child since my boyfriend denied responsibility,” said Simphiwe.

Chimiso remanded them in custody to today.

Prosecuting, Kenneth Shava told the court that the abortion was carried out on March 28 at around 9PM.

“Simphiwe took the pill and the foetus was expelled from her womb. With the help of the mother, she took the foetus and wrapped it in a newspaper and put it in a plastic bag. They disposed of the foetus in a sewer pond,” said Shava.

The prosecutor said Simphiwe was examined by a doctor and a medical report can be produced in court as an exhibit.