Appearing before the Extension II Magistrate Court for mitigation and sentencing yesterday, 20-year-old Gosego Masisi said he truly regrets what transpired.
He stated he was struggling to understand what was going through his mind when he put the baby in grievous bodily harm, but cited that his poor upbringing was the root cause of it all. As the stepfather of the child at the time of the offence, Masisi assaulted the baby back on November 27, 2024. Masisi was in a relationship with the mother of the child whom he had found pregnant when their relationship began. “I'm apologising before the court for what I've done. During the time of incarceration, I reflected on what made me do this, and I have realised something. I believe my upbringing contributed to my behaviour,” he said with a breaking voice. Masisi elaborated further on his poor upbringing, stating that he suffered inhumane acts from his parent, who, instead of looking after him, put him through abuse. “I wasn't raised well sometimes, I was deprived of food. Sometimes choked with shoelaces, hit with a stick on my back, and I would spend some time in the bush because of that,” he told the court. Convicted Masisi indicated that the abuse that he suffered at the hands of his guardian not only messed him up but also affected his studies.
He explained that curtains closed off in his studies only at Form 3 after failing his Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE). “I'm sorry that my parents didn't raise me well, and I'm wondering if this isn't what contributed to what I did; for that, I am sorry. I am sorry I wasn't raised well,” Masisi pleaded. He further argued that the court should be lenient with him as he is a first-time offender and has collaborated well with the State. “I am a first offender, and I even agreed to the evidence brought before court; I didn't deny anything. I have never missed any court appearance, and I pleaded guilty to show how remorseful I was. “Once again, I’m sorry for not being raised well,” he said.
It appears the convict convinced Magistrate Keabetswe Majuta, who established that, indeed, there are mitigating circumstances when passing her sentence. She, however, stated that Masisi shouldn't get off scot-free. “Masisi has shown that he has been abused by his parent and shows signs of repenting, but this doesn't mean the court should look away,” she said. “So I hereby sentence you to two years of imprisonment wholly suspended pending that he doesn't commit any other offence in those two years. “You will also be given four strokes following the doctor's evaluation,” Majuta passed her sentence.
