Mother and Two Others Set to Appear in Court for Encouraging Toddler to Smoke
Natalie Nyathi
A mother and two men are set to appear in the Johannesburg Regional Court today to face charges of child abuse. This follows a shocking video showing them allegedly encouraging a four-year-old boy to smoke from a makeshift pipe. The incident has caused a wave of anger and concern in the community.
The video, which went viral on social media, shows the child trying to light what looks like a drug-filled pipe. The mother takes a puff and then hands it to the child, who mimics her and inhales from the pipe while others laugh in the background. Authorities have reported that the adults admitted to using mandrax.
The disturbing footage led anti-drug activist Curt van Heerden, founder of the Institution of Grace, to take action. He and other activists found the child’s location in a block of flats in Johannesburg, where they spoke to residents to identify the adults in the video. With help from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police, they located the mother and took her to the Sophiatown police station.
Van Heerden made sure the child received medical attention, taking him and his grandmother to a hospital in the Johannesburg CBD. The child is now in the care of social services.
The two men arrested are aged between 28 and 36, and they, along with the mother, will be charged with child abuse under domestic violence laws.
Megan Briede, Director of Programmes at Save the Children South Africa, called the video a shocking violation of the child’s right to safety. She urged the community to stay alert, provide better family support, and enforce child protection laws more strictly. Briede explained that exposing a child to harmful substances like mandrax can cause serious health problems now and in the future.
Dr. Shaheda Omar, Director of The Teddy Bear Clinic, expressed concern about the growing number of mothers involved in child abuse, saying it reflects a troubling loss of care for their children.
This case highlights the serious issue of child abuse in South Africa and the need for communities to step in and protect vulnerable children. South African law requires certain professionals to report suspected child abuse. The Children’s Act states that anyone who suspects abuse must inform a child protection organization, the local social services, or the police. Failing to report abuse can lead to legal consequences.
The investigation is ongoing, and the community remains deeply affected by this incident.
