THE mother of murdered toddler Jeremiah Ruiters hopes the court will free her to attend his funeral this weekend.
Abigail Ruiters, 30, and her boyfriend Ameerudeen Peters, 26, were arrested after little Jeremiah was beaten and stabbed to death.
Ruiters faces a charge of child neglect after leaving her one-year-old son in the care of Peters, a known drug addict, while she went to work.
Peters was charged with murder.
The two are expected to make their second appearance at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court today.
It is alleged Peters beat and stabbed Jeremiah at their home in Salmander Square, Kensington, on 12 June, before taking him to the clinic where he was declared dead on arrival.
Jeremiah had severe head and body injuries, including stab wounds to his neck and arms.
MURDER ACCUSED: Ameerudeen Peters, 26.
Last week, State prosecutor Ebrahim Adams asked the court to move Peters to the hospital section of the prison for his own safety, following his suicide attempt in a holding cell on the Monday night, when he slashed his wrists.
The couple has been dating for one year and Abigail, a mom of three, is six-months pregnant with Peters’ child.
Yesterday, Abigail’s father, Pastor Ronald Ruiters, told the Daily Voice he hoped his daughter would be freed to attend Jeremiah’s burial.
He says Ruiters was “broken” by her son’s brutal death: “I spoke to my daughter and she is destroyed by what had happened to her son.
“I do pray she is able to attend her son’s funeral this Saturday.”
Cheslyn Steenberg of Kensington Community Policing Forum says they are calling on social workers to be more proactive when cases of neglect and abuse are reported.
DESIRE: Mom of slain Jeremiah Ruiters, 1, wants the court to free her so she can attend her son's funeral on Saturday
Little Jeremiah had been hospitalised a few months ago with a broken arm.
Steenberg says they are not opposed to Ruiters being at the funeral: “The CPF is of the opinion that everyone charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty and thus will not deny the mother of burying her son.
“The fact that Jeremiah’s mother and her boyfriend are charged with his demise concerns the CPF because our homes ought to be safe havens.
“We call upon our social workers to be more thorough in addressing complaints of neglect or abuse. We consider this tragedy an isolated incident and hope to never have it repeated.”
The funeral service takes place on Saturday at 9am at the New Apostolic Church, Spitfire Street, Factreton, and thereafter will proceed to Maitland Cemetery for the burial.
The viewing starts at 7.30am at the family’s home at 9 Salmander Square, Kensington.