Joburg Mom in Court After Viral Newclare Child Abuse Video Sparks Outrage

A four-year-old boy. A bottle pipe. A community pushed to its breaking point.

A shocking video showing a young boy being coaxed into smoking a harmful substance has sparked fury across Johannesburg and beyond. Now, the mother seen in the video, along with three men, is facing charges of attempted murder and child abuse.

The video, which quickly went viral on social media, shows the four-year-old being encouraged to smoke what appears to be a Mandrax- and dagga-laced pipe while adults watch and laugh. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has not confirmed the exact contents but stated that the child was clearly put in danger.

The mother was arrested on 29 July, and the boy has since been removed to a place of safety. All four accused appeared briefly in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The case has been postponed to Thursday, pending verification of their residential addresses.

“It could have been my child, too”

While cameras flashed outside the courthouse, heartbreak echoed inside. A woman who identified herself as a relative of one of the accused stood in solidarity, not with her family member, but with the child.

“I’m a mother too. That child could have been mine. In our community, drugs are everywhere, but nobody listens to us,” she said. “When kids are killed or addicted, we cry. But the government ignores us until a video goes viral.”

“The system fails our children every day”

Melissa Davids, a well-known Newclare community activist, was at court to show support and frustration. She says this is not an isolated case.

“I get calls every day about abuse and neglect. Just today, on my way here, a mother told me she tried to give up her child because she couldn’t cope, and she was turned away by social development.”

Davids says the government neglect of coloured communities is systemic. “There’s no proper help. Kids are exposed to drugs, shootings, and poverty. We only get attention when things explode.”

Public anger grows

The NPA’s Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that bail will be opposed, given the seriousness of the charges and the child’s age. She also urged the public to stop sharing the video, noting that it could harm the investigation and the dignity of the minor.

“Please, stop circulating the footage. The child is a victim. We must protect him,” she said outside court.

A deeper wound in Newclare

The outrage in Newclare is raw, but it’s also layered. This case became national news only because it was caught on camera, but according to residents and activists, similar tragedies happen often and quietly.

As court proceedings resume on Thursday, one question remains: will this moment lead to change, or will it be another case remembered only by those left to pick up the pieces?

Also read: Westbury in Shock: Toddler Filmed Smoking Mandrax Sparks Outrage and Arrests

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Source: TimesLIVE

Featured Image: KNDU