Outrage grows over rising child begging at north intersections
According to a local resident who witnessed the scene, Bernie van Deventer, the child ran past the front of an SUV just as the traffic light was about to turn green.
He said the child's head was barely above the bonnet, and if it was a second earlier, the driver wouldn't have seen her and she could have been killed.
What shocked Van Deventer even more was the mother's apparent indifference.
'She sat on the side of the road like it was normal. No panic, no urgency, just watching her child play in traffic.
'It's not just heartbreaking, it's infuriating,' he said.
These scenes are becoming increasingly common in Pretoria North, Sinoville, and Montana, where residents report seeing children running into the road at peak hours while parents or adult handlers look on.
Van Deventer asked why these children were not in school, why no one is stopping this and how many must die before something changes.
While the public raises alarm, the metro admitted its powers to intervene are limited.
According to spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the metro's social workers respond to cases involving children in danger only once they are reported, and must follow a strict legal process.
'The removal of children from their parents solely because they are begging does not meet the legal threshold for intervention,' explained Mashigo. He referenced the 2012 C and Others v Gauteng Department of Social Development Constitutional Court judgment, which ruled that social workers must conduct a comprehensive investigation and cannot remove children without a valid legal reason.
He said the law does not allow arbitrary separation of children from their parents.
'Begging alone is not enough. There must be proven neglect or danger.'
Yet to residents, the danger is clear. The R80-Brits intersection is notorious for fatal accidents.
Tow trucks often idle nearby in anticipation of crashes.
'It's a death trap, and we're watching children become part of it. This isn't just poverty, it's neglect. It's exploitation.'
CMR North, a designated child protection organisation, agrees.
It treats street begging involving children as a combination of neglect, abuse, and exploitation, often linked to deeper systems of informal trafficking.
General manager Dr Ronel Aylward said these are not isolated cases of poverty.
'Children are sometimes 'rented' to adult beggars or moved across suburbs to generate income. This is a form of modern-day child exploitation.'
The organisation explained that while it is legally empowered under Section 152 of the Children's Act to remove children in immediate danger, it is often hindered by a lack of information, shifting locations, and unco-operative adults.
'False names, fake addresses, undocumented families, we see it all,' said Aylward.
Despite these obstacles, she said they respond to every reported case and are calling for more co-ordinated action.
'We need stronger partnerships with SAPS, Tshwane Metro Police, and immigration authorities. But we also need public co-operation.
'Giving money to a child on the street may feel compassionate, but it feeds the cycle. Report it instead.'
The metro confirmed that social workers are available across Tshwane regions and offer support, such as food parcels and referrals to Sassa or government departments.
However, Mashigo acknowledged it keeps no official record of how many children have been removed from street begging situations, and there is no dedicated team monitoring high-risk intersections like Brits Road.
'The way I see it,' the resident said, 'we're going to see headlines about a child being killed at an intersection, and suddenly, TMPD and politicians will act. But by then it'll be too late. One more life wasted.'
Aylward said children belong in classrooms, not at traffic lights.
The organisation has called on concerned residents to report any sightings of children begging at intersections.
Reports should include the location, time, a description of the child and any adult present, and, if possible, a photograph.
'Your report might be the intervention that saves a life,' it said.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
30-07-2025
- The Star
Disturbing video prompts calls for justice after mother allegedly allows child to smoke
A child is seen holding a lighter/match and attempting to ignite what appears to be a drug-filled pipe. The mother takes a puff, then casually passes it to the child. Without hesitation, the boy mimics the action, inhaling from the pipe not once, but twice, as onlookers laugh in the background. The now-viral 32-second video showing a toddler standing in front of a woman believed to be his mother has sent shockwaves nationally. Children's organisations have expressed outrage over a disturbing video that has rocked the Newclare community in Johannesburg, where a vulnerable four-year-old child is seen being encouraged to smoke from a pipe, allegedly by his mother. The footage has ignited calls for justice. The incident, which occurred on the night of July 29, quickly spread across social media, sparking immediate action from the Newclare community. Horrified by what they saw, residents wasted no time; they confronted the mother at her home, demanding accountability. In another video, furious community members can be seen confronting the mother at her home, demanding answers and accountability. Voices are raised as she is questioned about the whereabouts of the two other individuals who were allegedly present when she gave the child the pipe to smoke. The scene is tense and emotional, reflecting a community deeply shaken and united in its call for justice. Megan Briede, Director of Programmes at Save the Children South Africa, condemned the video as a shocking breach of the child's right to safety and urged for urgent community vigilance, improved family support, and tougher enforcement of child protection measures. She further explained that exposing a child to harmful substances like mandrax at such a young age can cause both immediate and lasting damage. In the short term, the child may suffer physical symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or even poisoning, while psychologically, they may develop fear, anxiety, and emotional instability. Briede also added that Parents facing addiction are urged to seek help and avoid exposing children to danger. Every child deserves a safe, supportive home. 'There's no shame in asking for help, but silence can cost a child's life.' Echoing these concerns, Dr Shaheda Omar, director of the Teddy Bear Foundation board and clinical director, said the incident is heartbreaking and dangerous, exposing a defenceless child to abuse and normalising harmful behaviour they can not yet understand. Omar emphasised that the child's safety is paramount, referencing the Children's Act and Section 28 of the Constitution, which guarantee every child's right to protection, health, and care. She stated that this child's rights were violated, making urgent intervention necessary. She added that in cases like this, the foundation helps abused children and their families by collaborating with the wider community and systems to offer comprehensive healing and psychosocial support. 'No action is an island; healing requires working with the broader system to best support the child,' Omar said. Faeeza Marshman, an activist from Bosmont, Newclare, Westbury, and surrounding areas, voiced alarm following the tragedy at Bertha Flats, highlighting the grim reality of addiction in the community. She said it's common to see mothers battling substance abuse, using their children to beg on the streets. Many rely on social grants not to care for their kids, but to fuel their addiction, while the children are left hungry, barefoot, and running through traffic without supervision. 'The community claims they knew the parents were users, but not that a child was being abused. How many more cases like this are hidden behind closed doors?' She emphasised that communities such as Bosmont, Newclare, Westbury, and nearby areas are facing a dire crisis. With poverty, joblessness, rampant drug abuse, and the widespread neglect of children, a humanitarian emergency is unfolding before everyone's eyes, yet it continues to be met with silence and inaction. 'This is not just a community problem; it is a national disgrace.' She also urged the Department of Social Development, SAPS, local authorities, and civil society to join forces and act swiftly. She emphasised that the time for inaction is over and vowed that no more children should suffer or be lost due to systemic failures. The child was taken to the Sophiatown police station around midnight by Johannesburg Metro Police, accompanied by his father, grandmother, and concerned community members. Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the child received medical attention at a hospital before being placed in a place of safety. She added that the mother and two other suspects were swiftly arrested and charged with child abuse under the Domestic Violence Act. 'The trio, aged between 28 and 36, will be charged with child abuse under domestic violence. They will appear before the Johannesburg Regional Court on July 31.' Muridili said the alleged delay by an FCS officer in responding to the case is under investigation. She added that Gauteng's FCS unit has 22 offices and 66 detectives on standby to handle such matters swiftly. In recent months, South Africa has been shaken by shocking cases of mothers accused of abusing, trafficking, or even killing their children, revealing a disturbing and tragic trend reported widely by The Star.
IOL News
30-07-2025
- IOL News
Disturbing video prompts calls for justice after mother allegedly allows child to smoke
A shocking video of a mother encouraging her four-year-old to smoke has ignited outrage in Johannesburg's Newclare community, highlighting a grim reality of addiction and child abuse. A child is seen holding a lighter/match and attempting to ignite what appears to be a drug-filled pipe. The mother takes a puff, then casually passes it to the child. Without hesitation, the boy mimics the action, inhaling from the pipe not once, but twice, as onlookers laugh in the background. The now-viral 32-second video showing a toddler standing in front of a woman believed to be his mother has sent shockwaves nationally. Children's organisations have expressed outrage over a disturbing video that has rocked the Newclare community in Johannesburg, where a vulnerable four-year-old child is seen being encouraged to smoke from a pipe, allegedly by his mother. The footage has ignited calls for justice. The incident, which occurred on the night of July 29, quickly spread across social media, sparking immediate action from the Newclare community. Horrified by what they saw, residents wasted no time; they confronted the mother at her home, demanding accountability. In another video, furious community members can be seen confronting the mother at her home, demanding answers and accountability. Voices are raised as she is questioned about the whereabouts of the two other individuals who were allegedly present when she gave the child the pipe to smoke. The scene is tense and emotional, reflecting a community deeply shaken and united in its call for justice. Megan Briede, Director of Programmes at Save the Children South Africa, condemned the video as a shocking breach of the child's right to safety and urged for urgent community vigilance, improved family support, and tougher enforcement of child protection measures. She further explained that exposing a child to harmful substances like mandrax at such a young age can cause both immediate and lasting damage. In the short term, the child may suffer physical symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or even poisoning, while psychologically, they may develop fear, anxiety, and emotional instability. Briede also added that Parents facing addiction are urged to seek help and avoid exposing children to danger. Every child deserves a safe, supportive home. 'There's no shame in asking for help, but silence can cost a child's life.' Echoing these concerns, Dr Shaheda Omar, director of the Teddy Bear Foundation board and clinical director, said the incident is heartbreaking and dangerous, exposing a defenceless child to abuse and normalising harmful behaviour they can not yet understand. Omar emphasised that the child's safety is paramount, referencing the Children's Act and Section 28 of the Constitution, which guarantee every child's right to protection, health, and care. She stated that this child's rights were violated, making urgent intervention necessary. She added that in cases like this, the foundation helps abused children and their families by collaborating with the wider community and systems to offer comprehensive healing and psychosocial support. 'No action is an island; healing requires working with the broader system to best support the child,' Omar said. Faeeza Marshman, an activist from Bosmont, Newclare, Westbury, and surrounding areas, voiced alarm following the tragedy at Bertha Flats, highlighting the grim reality of addiction in the community. She said it's common to see mothers battling substance abuse, using their children to beg on the streets. Many rely on social grants not to care for their kids, but to fuel their addiction, while the children are left hungry, barefoot, and running through traffic without supervision. 'The community claims they knew the parents were users, but not that a child was being abused. How many more cases like this are hidden behind closed doors?' She emphasised that communities such as Bosmont, Newclare, Westbury, and nearby areas are facing a dire crisis. With poverty, joblessness, rampant drug abuse, and the widespread neglect of children, a humanitarian emergency is unfolding before everyone's eyes, yet it continues to be met with silence and inaction. 'This is not just a community problem; it is a national disgrace.' She also urged the Department of Social Development, SAPS, local authorities, and civil society to join forces and act swiftly. She emphasised that the time for inaction is over and vowed that no more children should suffer or be lost due to systemic failures. The child was taken to the Sophiatown police station around midnight by Johannesburg Metro Police, accompanied by his father, grandmother, and concerned community members. Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the child received medical attention at a hospital before being placed in a place of safety. She added that the mother and two other suspects were swiftly arrested and charged with child abuse under the Domestic Violence Act. 'The trio, aged between 28 and 36, will be charged with child abuse under domestic violence. They will appear before the Johannesburg Regional Court on July 31.' Muridili said the alleged delay by an FCS officer in responding to the case is under investigation. She added that Gauteng's FCS unit has 22 offices and 66 detectives on standby to handle such matters swiftly. In recent months, South Africa has been shaken by shocking cases of mothers accused of abusing, trafficking, or even killing their children, revealing a disturbing and tragic trend reported widely by The Star.
TimesLIVE
23-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
‘Only a sperm donor' claim fails for dad trying to dodge maintenance
A Johannesburg man's attempt to avoid a claim for maintenance to support his twin children by asserting he had merely agreed to be a sperm donor for a lover has been rebuffed by the high court. The lawyer, who is a senior counsel, had an on-off extramarital affair from 2002 with a woman with whom he had twins, a boy and a girl, in October 2021. He is their biological father, though they were conceived by her undergoing artificial fertilisation. The married man also has one child with his wife and two older children. Last year the mother of the twins went to maintenance court and asked for an increase in the allowance he paid towards the children's care because her work contract was not renewed. He responded by filing a case in the high court, saying he had a "gamete donor agreement" with her for use of his sperm to become pregnant during fertility treatment. A maintenance claim, he said, was "contrary to their agreement" and he must "protect his rights". He asked the court for a declaratory order that he not be considered as the children's father or a person holding parental responsibilities and rights for them as envisaged by the Children's Act. He said he had agreed to assist her because of his care and affection for her "to allow her to fulfil her dearest wish". He did not want and could not afford another child and his condition was clearly expressed to her, which she accepted and on which basis he donated his sperm, he said.
