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Joburg in Shock: Toddler Filmed Smoking Drugs; Mother and Two Others Arrested
“The system worked this time, but how many kids fall through the cracks?”
A chilling video that surfaced online this week has left South Africans stunned. In it, a young boy, barely old enough to speak in full sentences, is seen lighting a drug pipe, reportedly filled with mandrax, on behalf of his mother. Encouraged by the adults around him, he then takes a puff. The laughter in the background only sharpens the horror of what is unfolding.
Now, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has confirmed the arrest of three individuals featured in the viral clip, including the child’s mother.
A Community Tip-Off That Made All the Difference
The arrests followed swiftly after the JMPD K9 Unit received a tip-off on Tuesday evening while patrolling in Newclare. Acting on this information, officers located the mother, who matched the description from the footage. She reportedly pointed out two others involved, including the person who filmed the shocking scene.
“Officers introduced themselves and questioned the suspects about the video,” said JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla. “All three admitted to using Mandrax and confessed to recording the incident.”
Their mobile phones have been confiscated as evidence. The trio, two men and the boy’s mother, aged between 28 and 36, now face charges of child abuse and neglect under South Africa’s domestic violence laws.
A Boy Removed, a Province Reeling
The little boy at the centre of this tragedy has been removed from the household and placed into the protective care of the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit. He was first taken to hospital for medical assessment and is now in a place of safety.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the boy’s grandmother was also involved in bringing him to the Sophiatown police station, where officers from both SAPS and JMPD collaborated to ensure his immediate protection.
JMPD Praises the Public and Condemns Failures
Commissioner Patrick Jaca of the JMPD said the case highlights the “vigilance and commitment of community members, as well as the urgent responsiveness of officers who prioritise the welfare of our most vulnerable.”
However, the case also exposed a disturbing lapse. Allegations have emerged that a member of the SAPS FCS unit initially dismissed a report about the incident, allegedly telling a concerned citizen that they would “attend to it tomorrow.”
Provincial head Brigadier Phumzile Zulu has now ordered an official inquiry. With 22 FCS units operating across Gauteng and 66 detectives on standby after hours, the system is designed for urgency, yet in this instance there may have been a critical failure.
@justice_forthe_voiceless
Social Media Outrage: “This Is Not Parenting; This Is Criminal”
As the video spread across platforms such as TikTok, X, and Facebook, outraged users called for swift justice and questioned how such an incident could happen in plain sight.
“This is not just bad parenting. It is organised, criminal abuse,” wrote one user. Another commented, “We’re glad the system worked this time, but how many more children are going through this behind closed doors?”
Others demanded tougher enforcement on drug use and better follow-up on community reports of abuse.
What Now?
The suspects are scheduled to appear at the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday. Meanwhile, the boy’s welfare remains the top priority for SAPS, who will closely monitor his placement and ongoing care.
While this case has shocked the nation, it also sheds light on both the power of community action and the cracks that still exist in the country’s child protection systems. The public now waits to see whether justice will not only be done but also be seen to be done.
Also read: Tiffany Meek to Appeal No-Bail Ruling as South Africa Demands Justice for Jayden-Lee
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Foobot
