A Robertson father (25) has been sentenced to 10 years direct imprisonment for neglecting his biological child. The boy, Michyle Plaatjies (one year and nine months), was found dead 12 days after going missing.
Frederick Galant, from De Fonteine farm in Agter-Klip-Hoogte, was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to child neglect.
According to his plea agreement, Galant admitted that on 10 September 2023 he had been drinking with friends from the previous day into the early morning hours. When he woke, the group continued drinking.
Galant went looking for the child’s mother, Elzaan Plaatjies. When she was not at home, he took their son from the carer despite her concerns about his state of sobriety. He admits he was upset that Plaatjies was not there and acted wrongfully by taking the child whilst under the influence of alcohol.
Whilst walking with his child, Galant felt the need to urinate. He left the boy unattended along the road and went back to a house to use the facilities. Upon his return, the child was no longer where he had left him.
Galant admits he searched for the child for an unknown period before raising the alarm for others to help. He acknowledged that by not immediately requesting help, he acted wrongfully and placed the child’s physical safety in danger.
During the search, Galant became angry when confronted about his behavior and got into confrontations with Plaatjies and other community members. He admits he panicked upon recognising his complicity in the child’s disappearance and did not co-operate as quickly as he should have.
The child was found dead following an extensive and highly publicised search operation after 12 days.
Galant admitted that although he was under the influence of alcohol, he was not intoxicated to the point where he could not appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions. He acknowledged his culpability in neglecting his parental duties, which led to the child being left unattended and exposed to the elements for a prolonged period.
Elton Willemse was the prosecutor.
