Family requests bail be denied for Florida child assaulter

In the flash of an instant, years of events, circumstances and decisions can collide in a kaleidoscope of rage, fear, panic and sadness. It may take a second to form an opinion, a minute to play back the footage but a lifetime to dissect the root causes, Roodepoort Record reports.

The Bella Napoli child assault saga in Florida, Roodepoort added another chapter as the accused made an appearance in the Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 17 September.

Naseem Slamang is facing charges of common assault, assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm, as well as attempted kidnapping. Naseem appeared in court in order to verify his address, even though his family has signalled to the court that they were not seeking to have the 27-year-old released on bail.

In a discussion outside the court, Naseem’s father, Ebrahim was adamant that his son needs to take responsibility for the events that transpired late on that Thursday afternoon.

“Whatever the courts decide, we will accept,” he said. The visibly distressed father is in no way looking for sympathy and is mindful of the damage that his son may have already caused to the young child captured in the widely circulated video footage.

Public reaction has been fierce as the torrent of online abuse and ‘ugly’ personal messages aimed at Ebrahim can attest to. While repeatedly condemning his son’s behaviour, Ebrahim recounted how he and relatives have made repeated attempts to ween Naseem off illegal substances.

“He started using dagga in matric. He has been to rehab where he has worked as a panel beater, and he even took baking lessons,” recounted Ebrahim.

Naseem is a Roodepoort native who attended Boskop Primary and Florida Park High were he would regularly participate in extra murals, according to his father and close relatives. Sadly, he would lose his mother at the age of eight and another close friend a few years after they finished school.

The events of Thursday, 10 September can never be undone but those close to Naseem believe a good person exists within him.

Chief concern, however, is still for the young child and her family who were caught up in this seemingly deranged moment of madness. The process is still in its infancy but in time, the legal system will judge the accused accordingly.

Details of the accused’s next court appearance will be shared as they as forthcoming.

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