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.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Limpopo woman, 20, arrested for alleged murder of 3-month-old baby
A 20-year-old woman will appear before Makhado Magistrate court in Limpopo soon in connection with the alleged murder of a three-month-baby. Police in Bandelierkop under Vhembe District arrested the 20-year-old female following the untimely death of a three-month-old child on Friday, 1 August, at about 18:00 in Mundzedzi village. Police spokesperson in Limpopo, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said police were on patrol duties when they were summoned at Vleifontein clinic at about 18:30 after being informed about two individuals who brought a deceased child to the facility. Upon arrival, a medical officer pointed to the lifeless body of a child on the bed. Ledwaba said the duo informed police that they were seated outside the house with a 20-year-old woman suspect holding the child. 'Reports suggest that while they were seated, the suspect took the child and went inside the house, and after a few minutes, they went inside to check on her. They allegedly found the suspect in a seated position and choking the baby. 'They intervened and took the victim and rushed him to the local clinic, and he succumbed to his injuries. He was declared dead by the medical services personnel,' Ledwaba explained. Additionally, Ledwaba said following the incident, a case of murder was immediately opened and the suspect was traced and subsequently apprehended for the murder of a three-month-old victim. 'The motive behind the incident is unknown, and a 20-year-old suspect who is a relative of the deceased will appear before the Makhado Magistrate's court soon, facing a charge of murder. Police investigations are continuing.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
Man sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment for murder of partner
A man was sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment for the murder of his partner at the Victoria West Regional Court, Northern Cape. The 37-year-old Jan Jonkers brutally murdered Charlene Tieties (31) at their residence in Kimberley. Jonkers assaulted and stabbed Tieties with a knife and she was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. According to a police statement, Jonkers fled the scene after the incident but was later captured on the same day. He applied for bail but was denied and sentenced. In another similar incident in Kimberley, a 35-year-old man was given a double life sentence for the rape and murder of 21-year-old Thobeka Bosman. Selby George raped and strangled Bosman. The deceased's half-naked body was found under a bridge on Snyman Street in the same area. George was arrested shortly after and was sentenced at the Kimberley High Court on Thursday, 1 August 2025. Four suspects were arrested for the murder of a mother (34) and her 2-year-old daughter, who went missing in May this year. Following an intensive search, SAPS Thohoyandou intervention Team, Thohoyandou Detectives and the Provincial Missing Person Team discovered the decapitated bodies of the two victims. The South African reached out to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba about the location where the bodies were discovered, but has not received a response yet. Additionally, one of the victims is alleged to be the partner of the deceased mother. The motive behind the murder is unknown. The first two suspects, Tshilidzi Phalandwa(43)and Balangani Sedzani Tshivhombedze (32), appeared before the Vuwani Magistrate's Court on Friday, 1 August 2025 and were remanded in custody as the case was postponed to 12 August 2025. The two other suspects, a 55-year-old man and a traditional healer (38), were arrested a few days later. Police discovered the missing heads of the two victims at the traditional healer's residence. Both suspects will appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Monday, 4 August 2025, over murder charges. In addition, a charge of possession of human tissue will be handed over against the traditional healer. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
Justin Baldoni attends Blake Lively's deposition in legal dispute
Justin Baldoni stunned many by appearing in person at Blake Lively's deposition in New York, as their legal wrangle intensifies. Baldoni, aged 41, faced Blake Lively, 37, as his lawyers questioned her at her legal team's office. The courtroom drama has captivated not just Hollywood but the world. Conversations about workplace rights and legal protection have been resonating strongly. The legal battle centres on Lively's allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against Baldoni. Justin Baldoni was her director and co-star in the film It Ends With Us . Baldoni has firmly denied the claims, according to People . Justin Baldoni's physical presence at the deposition defied many expectations. Traditionally, parties refrain from attending such depositions in person. Bryan Freedman, Justin Baldoni's lawyer, previously said, 'He wants to be vindicated, and that's all that he cares about.' 'Baldoni knows who he is, what he's done, what he hasn't done. He wants the truth to come out, and he's waiting for his day in court.' Judge Lewis J. Liman has strictly regulated the legal process by issuing a protective order. This allowed Lively's lawyers control over the location and notification of those present for the deposition. In a powerful statement after the dismissal of Baldoni's counterclaims, Blake Lively stated: 'Like so many others, I've felt the pain of a retaliatory lawsuit. This includes the manufactured shame that tries to break us. I am more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman's right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story.' Baldoni's countersuits include allegations of extortion and defamation against Blake Lively and her husband, actor Ryan Reynolds. A judge dismissed Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively in June 2025. The court rejected his claims of extortion and defamation, ruling that Lively's actions constituted permissible negotiation rather than wrongful extortion. A judge has set the trial for March 2026, and both Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively will testify. Freedman summarised his approach: 'I'm going to ask her questions under penalty of perjury. She'll have to provide evidence and the truth. We're going to see how consistent her testimony is with the facts of what transpired.' The case remains a stark reminder of both the challenges faced by women in asserting their rights and the importance of due legal process. As anticipation builds for the trial, one reality remains clear: both sides are preparing for a battle where the truth and public vindication are at stake. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
