The Tafelsig man who forced a young child to drink alcohol in a viral video last week has been arrested on child abuse charges.
Spokesperson for the provincial media centre, Captain FC van Wyk, said the 33-year-old man was arrested on Saturday 29 November and appeared in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrates’ Court on Monday 1 December.
On Friday 28 November the child and three siblings, including a 7-month-old baby were removed from the parents’ care and taken to places of safety.
READ MORE: Child force fed alcohol in viral video taken to safety
Zona Morton, an activist who has worked with police and the defence force monitoring of police brutality, children in custody and children in conflict with the law, was instrumental in bringing the case to the attention of police and the Department of Social Development (DSD).
Morton, who cannot disclose her location because of her vulnerabilty as a known whistle blower, said DSD “acted immediately when I reported the matter”.
“I am still calling for police management to institute disciplinary steps against the shift commander,” Morton said.
Morton said that she had asked the commander to check on the safety of the child multiple times but alleged that he “ignored” her.
IN OTHER NEWS: Western Cape battles intense wildfire wave as crews contain multiple blazes
“This commissioned officer who holds the mandate of child protection merely made a phone call to the father,” Norton said. “This should serve as a warning to other parents and police officers.”
She said the man who was arrested “should face the full wrath of justice”.
“His actions could have led to the death of a young child,” she said.
Dual investigations
Esther Lewis, the spokesperson for DSD, said a child protection investigation is underway which is separate to the criminal investigation.
“The social worker now has 90 days to investigate and present their findings to the Children’s Court,” Lewis said.
Community activist Lynn Phillips, who had assisted Norton in contacting the police, confirmed that it was the child’s father that had been arrested.
“The father was arrested and will be appearing in court,” she said.
IN OTHER NEWS: City calls for expanded policing powers after alarming crime stats
Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum chair Norman Jantjies appealed to the community to keep their wits about them this “silly season”.
“We are quite appalled by this type of behaviour,” Jantjies said. “Some kids who start drinking young are not able to stop. I hope justice will be served and that the sentence will act as a serious deterrent. You shouldn’t expose your children to drinking, even by drinking in front of them. We are role models and we have to be examples to our children.”
He urged residents to be vigilant about the whereabouts and activities of all children, and not only their own.
“We must be vigilant this festive season,” he said, encouraging the community to report incidences of child abuse that they are aware of.
