Tears as mom is told to hand over her child

12 September 2018 - 10:45
By Prega Govender
Lawyers Olivia Peratti and Nadine Erasmus successfully represented a diplomat who sought the child she raised be returned to her from the biological mother.
Image: THAPELO MOREBUDI Lawyers Olivia Peratti and Nadine Erasmus successfully represented a diplomat who sought the child she raised be returned to her from the biological mother.

A Polokwane woman walked out of court in tears on Tuesday when a judge ordered her to return her son to the woman who helped to raise him.

The urgent application was brought by a well-known South African diplomat who is a daughter of a Struggle stalwart, due to return to her overseas embassy post soon.

Judge Pierre Rabie had to temporarily postpone reading his judgment when the biological mom of the 8-year-old burst into tears and walked out of the courtroom. He adjourned the case for five minutes‚ after which the mom returned.

According to testimony presented in court‚ the diplomat procured a high court order in 2015 which granted her a co-guardianship of the child.

On Tuesday she brought an urgent court application at the Palace of Justice in Pretoria‚ seeking the return of the minor to her care. The child was believed to have been born from a relationship the diplomat’s partner had while he was married to her.

The child had been living with his biological mom‚ an artist in Polokwane, since May.

The judge ordered the child’s immediate return‚ failing which the biological mom would be held in contempt.