A young single mother from a village in Maseru is seeking justice after her two-year-old daughter was allegedly assaulted at a local daycare on March 21, 2025.
The mother, whose identity is withheld to protect her minor child, shared her distressing account with this publication, detailing the incident and her struggle to secure accountability.
Originally from Thaba-Tseka, the mother works as a laundry assistant in Maseru and relies on a village daycare to care for her daughter during her late working hours, typically collecting her around 5 p.m.
On March 21, she said she noticed a stark change in her daughter’s behaviour upon picking her up. The child resisted being touched on her thighs and instructed her mother to hold her in a specific way.
At home, the toddler broke into inconsolable cries, alarming the mother.
When asked what happened, the two-year-old claimed that “Ntate,” identified as a son of the daycare owner, had “assaulted her with stones on her genitals.”
The mother recalled a prior incident where her daughter mentioned a peer touching her genitals, but noted that her reaction then was far less severe. “I had told the daycare owner I was relieved my daughter could communicate if something was wrong,” she said.
Attempting to examine her daughter, the mother found the child repeatedly saying, “Ntate has hurt me,” before falling asleep. She then noticed scratches on her daughter’s buttocks and discoloration on her genitals, confirming her fears of a serious incident.
“I felt like my mind stopped working,” she said, describing her shock and paralysis.
The incident occurred on a Friday, and the mother, overwhelmed, spent Saturday at home as her daughter complained of pain during urination. On Sunday, March 23, she took her daughter to a hospital, where a doctor ruled out sexual penetration.
She then reported the incident to the Lithabaneng Police Post, opening a case.
However, the mother expressed frustration that some officers dismissed the case, citing the medical assessment as showing no evidence of harm. The police referred her to the children’s court, where, during a therapy play session, the child was questioned about the incident.
The court informed the mother that her daughter would be referred to Child Development Services.
“All I want is justice for my child and to know what this man did to her,” the mother said.
Police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mpiti Mopeli was unavailable for comment, as he was in a meeting.
A representative from the children’s court information office confirmed that a report of this nature was received but said the case did not proceed to court due to insufficient evidence.
The Southern African Alliance on Youth Employment (SAAYE) Lesotho Chapter has called for action, urging Police Commissioner Borotho Matsoso, Education Minister Professor Ntoi Rapapa, and Health Minister Selibe Mochoboroane to investigate the Lithabaneng Police and the medical practitioner who assessed the child.
SAAYE also demanded support for the mother and child, including developmental assistance, legal representation, and protection services, and called for the daycare to be held accountable for child safety.
Relebohile Makhetha is a court and crime reporter based in Maseru. She has been working at Newsday since 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Communication from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (2024) and a Diploma in Mass Communication from the National University of Lesotho (Institute of Extra-Mural Studies, 2018).
