Toddler video 'a cry for help from drug-ravaged Newclare community'
'The child responded spontaneously when asked to participate, which suggests this is not an isolated incident. This is a clear violation of the child's right to safety, health and protection,' she said.
Omar said a toddler's exposure to Mandrax could have severe and potentially life-threatening effects. 'It slows down breathing, can cause respiratory depression, coma, or even death. It affects the heart, lowers blood pressure, can trigger seizures and lead to long-term organ damage.
'We cannot rule out possible brain damage if the child was exposed even before birth. The long-term consequences include addiction, poor concentration, behavioural disorders and psychological trauma.'
ActionSA MP Dereleen James said she was deeply disturbed by the matter, calling it part of a disturbing trend of child abuse cases. 'Yet another child violated. We are still reeling from the Jayden-Lee matter, and now this. A spate of negligence has taken root in our communities,' she said.
James said part of the problem lay in poor service delivery in Newclare. 'Social workers often fail these communities and return children to the same abusive environments,' she said. 'We also know places of safety are overwhelmed, and cases like these are often struck off the roll due to a shortage of social workers. Even after the Joshlin matter, Saldanha Bay [in the Western Cape] struggles with services to protect children from abuse.'
SowetanLIVE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
01-08-2025
- The Herald
Toddler video 'a cry for help from drug-ravaged Newclare community'
Speaking to Sowetan outside court, Dr Shaheda Omar of the Teddy Bear Foundation described the video as 'shock, horror, sadness and anger'. 'The child responded spontaneously when asked to participate, which suggests this is not an isolated incident. This is a clear violation of the child's right to safety, health and protection,' she said. Omar said a toddler's exposure to Mandrax could have severe and potentially life-threatening effects. 'It slows down breathing, can cause respiratory depression, coma, or even death. It affects the heart, lowers blood pressure, can trigger seizures and lead to long-term organ damage. 'We cannot rule out possible brain damage if the child was exposed even before birth. The long-term consequences include addiction, poor concentration, behavioural disorders and psychological trauma.' ActionSA MP Dereleen James said she was deeply disturbed by the matter, calling it part of a disturbing trend of child abuse cases. 'Yet another child violated. We are still reeling from the Jayden-Lee matter, and now this. A spate of negligence has taken root in our communities,' she said. James said part of the problem lay in poor service delivery in Newclare. 'Social workers often fail these communities and return children to the same abusive environments,' she said. 'We also know places of safety are overwhelmed, and cases like these are often struck off the roll due to a shortage of social workers. Even after the Joshlin matter, Saldanha Bay [in the Western Cape] struggles with services to protect children from abuse.' SowetanLIVE
TimesLIVE
31-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Toddler video 'a cry for help from drug-ravaged Newclare community'
Speaking to Sowetan outside court, Dr Shaheda Omar of the Teddy Bear Foundation described the video as 'shock, horror, sadness and anger'. 'The child responded spontaneously when asked to participate, which suggests this is not an isolated incident. This is a clear violation of the child's right to safety, health and protection,' she said. Omar said a toddler's exposure to Mandrax could have severe and potentially life-threatening effects. 'It slows down breathing, can cause respiratory depression, coma, or even death. It affects the heart, lowers blood pressure, can trigger seizures and lead to long-term organ damage. 'We cannot rule out possible brain damage if the child was exposed even before birth. The long-term consequences include addiction, poor concentration, behavioural disorders and psychological trauma.' ActionSA MP Dereleen James said she was deeply disturbed by the matter, calling it part of a disturbing trend of child abuse cases. 'Yet another child violated. We are still reeling from the Jayden-Lee matter, and now this. A spate of negligence has taken root in our communities,' she said. James said part of the problem lay in poor service delivery in Newclare. 'Social workers often fail these communities and return children to the same abusive environments,' she said. 'We also know places of safety are overwhelmed, and cases like these are often struck off the roll due to a shortage of social workers. Even after the Joshlin matter, Saldanha Bay [in the Western Cape] struggles with services to protect children from abuse.'
The Herald
19-07-2025
- The Herald
Mpox vaccines rolled out in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal as cases rise
The department of health says it has launched a mpox vaccination drive in the three provinces hardest hit by the virus which are Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. 'The department has embarked on a vaccination drive against mpox disease as the number of laboratory-confirmed cases is gradually rising in the country,' it said. The vaccination programme is being rolled out at selected public health facilities, travel clinics and private providers. The department confirmed that two new cases had been detected in Johannesburg and Cape Town, increasing the total number of confirmed mpox infections in South Africa to 10 since the beginning of 2025. According to the department, the two latest patients are aged 32 and 45 with no recent travel department also said that due to limited supply with 10,500 doses of the Imvanex® vaccine donated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control the rollout will be done in phases, starting in areas with confirmed outbreaks.'Priority will be given to people at higher risk of contracting the virus, including those who came into close contact with confirmed cases, individuals with multiple sexual partners, and travellers heading to regions experiencing active mpox outbreaks,' said the department.'Where indicated, vaccination will be offered to pregnant women and children older than two years.' . The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) approved the importation of the vaccine via a special section 21 application, allowing the use of a product not yet registered in South Africa. The National Control Laboratory tested the doses for safety and efficacy before public use.'The vaccine was found to be safe and is well tolerated in the vast majority of people,' said the a virus previously known as monkeypox, typically presents with a rash lasting two to four weeks, fever, swollen lymph nodes, body aches, low energy and headache. The rash can appear as painful blisters or sores, particularly on the face, hands, feet, groin and genital or anal not officially classified as a sexually transmitted infection, mpox can spread through close physical contact including sex, hugging, kissing and even sharing contaminated bedding, towels or National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) recorded 25 confirmed cases and three deaths in 2024. 'Vaccination helps to control the spread of this preventable and manageable disease. Vaccinated individuals are protected from becoming infected and from developing severe complications,' said the department. Common side effects after immunisation may include pain or redness at the injection site, fever, muscle aches and nausea but these usually resolve without treatment in a few days.'These side effects can be managed by having enough rest, staying hydrated and taking medication for pain, if needed. Individuals are encouraged to report any suspected side effects to a healthcare professional or through the Med Safety App, which is available for free on Android and iOS,' said the department. The department is urging residents in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to remain vigilant. 'Those who suspect they are at risk of infection should consult their nearest health facility for screening, testing, and to check if they qualify for vaccination.' it said. TimesLIVE
