Kamogelo Seekoei
Kamogelo Seekoei
A month after popular kwaito artist Mgarimbe, real name Nkosinathi Mfeka, was charged and later freed on allegations of child abuse, his child is still locked in a place of safety.
The singer has not claimed the child back and the biological mother is yet to contact the authorities to reclaim her child.
The four-year-old girl was removed from her home last month after Sowetan discovered she was allegedly being physically abused by her kwaito star father.
Mgarimbe had denied the child existed, but the police found her hidden in the house when they were alerted about the alleged abuse.
Fred Mokoko, spokesman for the department of social development, said it was not their responsibility to contact the mother. "She will have to come to us if she wants her child back," he said.
The mother had said that Mgarimbe took the child for a visit in November last year and promised to return her in a few days - but he never did.
The singer and his girlfriend were accused by their neighbours of beating and starving the girl, who they believed was the couple's first-born child.
The child had already started showing withdrawal symptoms and her hair was so thin that "malnutrition was written all over her face", said a neighbour.
West Rand police spokesman Siphiwe Ndlovu said they were still investigating.
abused kid unclaimed
Kamogelo Seekoei
Kamogelo Seekoei
A month after popular kwaito artist Mgarimbe, real name Nkosinathi Mfeka, was charged and later freed on allegations of child abuse, his child is still locked in a place of safety.
The singer has not claimed the child back and the biological mother is yet to contact the authorities to reclaim her child.
The four-year-old girl was removed from her home last month after Sowetan discovered she was allegedly being physically abused by her kwaito star father.
Mgarimbe had denied the child existed, but the police found her hidden in the house when they were alerted about the alleged abuse.
Fred Mokoko, spokesman for the department of social development, said it was not their responsibility to contact the mother. "She will have to come to us if she wants her child back," he said.
The mother had said that Mgarimbe took the child for a visit in November last year and promised to return her in a few days - but he never did.
The singer and his girlfriend were accused by their neighbours of beating and starving the girl, who they believed was the couple's first-born child.
The child had already started showing withdrawal symptoms and her hair was so thin that "malnutrition was written all over her face", said a neighbour.
West Rand police spokesman Siphiwe Ndlovu said they were still investigating.