Woman admits concealing her underage status

Chawada Engleton (19), who was 14 years in 2007 when her two boyfriends allegedly defiled her, told the court on Monday that she did not disclose her age to the men.The two men, Otsetswe Ramaretwa (23) and Obusitse Mosalaolowa (25), both residents of Gerald Estates, appeared before Senior Magistrate Thebeetsile Mulalu on a single count of defilement each.Although they both wrote a statement of offence acknowledging having had carnal knowledge of the girl, the two men have not pleaded guilty.

Engleton admitted dating the two men and sleeping with them. She said she started dating Ramaretwa, who is the father of her child, in 2007 he was 18-years-old and she only 14. "We started dating in January 2007 and I fell pregnant in May that year," she said. "I did not disclose my age to him and I did not even tell him that I was doing Standard Six at Tangala Primary School." Engleton recalled how Ramaretwa had "proposed" her when she was on her way to a public standpipe and how she readily accepted the proposal.