As South Africans commemorate Child Protection Week, many have been shocked by the photos of an Ivory Park toddler with gruesome injuries, after the mother allegedly burnt the child with a hot tablespoon.
The 24-year-old mother of the two-year-old appeared in Tembisa Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and the child has since been moved to a place of safety.
The incident happened on Monday last week.
The Ivory Park SAPS communications officer, Warrant Officer Neldah Sekgobela, said police from the victim empowerment centre received a call on Monday last week from a community member who told them about the alleged abuse.
“One of the Ivory Park SAPS Sector Managers went to the address and came back with the woman and her two-year-old daughter. The child had injuries on both legs. The mother was asked what transpired. She told the police that her daughter soiled herself while sitting on the sofa and she burned her several times with a heated tablespoon.
“The mother was arrested for assault with the purpose of inflicting grievous bodily harm,” said W/O Sekgobela.
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