Joburg mom faces steeper charges after child-drug video goes viral
They appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, 31 July. However, the case has been postponed to Monday, 4 August.
The video of the child being given drugs to smoke has circulated widely and sparked public outrage. Authorities have since removed the child from the home and placed him in a place of safety.
The Johannesburg Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences unit (FCS) commander Lieutenant Colonel Marema Mogale and his team responded immediately to the case at about midnight. However, it is alleged that another FCS member was called and then told the complainant that they would deal with it in the morning.
These allegations have been brought to the attention of the Gauteng head of FCS, Brigadier Phumzile Zulu, and are expected to be formally investigated. The FCS requires its members to be available after hours to attend to such cases.
Gauteng Social Development spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa told SABC News that the department is outraged by the irresponsible behaviour of the parents.
He affirmed the department's commitment to investigating the incident and providing the necessary intervention to support the child. Motlhaolwa called on the public to share videos of such incidents with the department or the police to help ensure justice is served.
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