South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the arrest of Nthabiseng Hlapo who appeared in a viral video assaulting her one-year-old son who has been now taken to a place of safety.
The video caused social media outrage as people demanded her arrest. According to SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, Nthabiseng appeared before Johannesburg Magistrate court.
“SAPS arrested the biological mother of the child who is being assaulted on a video that has gone viral on Saturday, 05 August 2023 on the same day in which the father opened the case. The mother appeared before the JHB Magistrate court and was released.”
The Gauteng Department of Social Development stepped in to assure the removal and safety of the abused child in the wake of the horrifying social media video showing a mother aggressively stomping and stepping on the toddler’s delicate neck.
MEC MBALI HLOPHE ACKNOWLEDGES SAVING THE TORTURED TODDLER
Department of Social Development in Gauteng confirmed that the child is currently in safe custody and separated from the mother, according to a statement by MEC Mbali Hlophe.
She claimed that the Gauteng Department of Social Development, in collaboration with their NPOs, had set up the child’s transfer to a children’s home following his visit to a hospital, where he had undergone a thorough health evaluation to determine the degree of his wounds.
“The toddler is currently in safe care receiving treatment and care, under the warm embrace of our childcare workers.” Mbali Hlophe
THE LAW PROTECTING CHILDREN AGAINT VIOLENT PARENTS
“Children’s Act No. 38 of 2005 makes provision for identification of children in need of care and protection. Section 150 (i) identifies a child that is being maltreated, abused, deliberately neglected or degraded by a parent as a child in need of care and protection,” MEC Hlophe referenced.
Following the trending horrific social media video of a mother violently kicking and standing on the fragile neck of her toddler, we had to move swiftly to ensure the removal and protection of the toddler.
It’s horrendous that this incident occurs during #WomensMonth when we… pic.twitter.com/m6UbfQsgSb
— Mbali Hlophe (@MbaliHlopheSA) August 8, 2023
She added that a child abuse case is under investigation by SAPS.
“It’s horrendous that this incident takes place during Women’s Month when we should be celebrating women and promoting exemplary female figures,” said MEC Hlophe.
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“The child is safe albeit traumatised as he spent much of the day crying, We condemn such acts of child abuse and make a call to society to stand out child abuse and to report such acts immediately. We owe it to our children to create a safe and loving environment for them,” she further said.
“The matter will be taken to the Children’s Court on 10 August 2023 as a toddler is in need of care in terms of the Children’s Act No.38 of 2005,” Hlophe concluded.
