A woman who was captured on camera standing on a baby and kicking it has been arrested.
This comes after horrified South Africans posted videos of a mother assaulting her 1-year-old baby while he was lying on the floor on social media.
The mother could be seen standing on the helpless baby as he cried out.
According to the police, the mother was arrested after the father of the child reported the incident to them.
The woman appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Monday.
The police’s Mavela Masondo: “A case of assault GBH was registered and the matter was immediately transferred to the Family Violence, Child Protection, Sexual Investigations (FCS) Unit.”
The toddler has been rescued and taken to a place of safety. The Gauteng department of social development has announced it “moved swiftly to ensure removal and protection of the toddler”.
MEC Mbali Hlophe said the child was in safe care and away from the mother.
“I can confirm we have placed him in safe care in one of our shelters where he’s in the warm embrace of our professional childcare workers,” Hlophe said.
She stated that they first took the child to the hospital for a “full health assessment to verify the extent of injury from the ordeal.”
According to Hlophe, the Children’s Act includes procedures for identifying children in need of care and protection.
Police are investigating a complaint of child abuse, which will be heard in the children’s court on Thursday, according to Hlophe.
“We can confidently indicate the child is safe and sound and the department has received the necessary reports in preparation for his court case on Thursday.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cyan Boujee Accuses Prince Kaybee Of Leaking Their S*x Tape
She said it was “horrendous” that the incident took place during Women’s Month when the country should be celebrating women and promoting exemplary female figures.
“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 stamp out child abuse and to report such acts immediately.”
Hlophe said the country owes it to children to create safe and loving environments for them.
