Officers from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) and The South African Police Services (SAPS) responded to a call for assistance from a community that discovered a child who was severely assaulted & abused over several months.
The RUSA Operations Center received the call from residents of an informal settlement near the Hazelmere Dam requesting assistance after a four-year-old girl was found with open wounds to her face, body and upper lip.
Reaction Officers, Police Officers from SAPS Verulam & Paramedics responded to the call and upon arrival were met with community members who handed over a baby girl (details withheld to protect identity).
When inspected the child was found with several open wounds on her back, a missing tooth, burst lip, facial injuries and scars from previously healed wounds on her body.
The community that gathered informed Officers that the child was repeatedly assaulted by her biological mother and father over a period of time. She had sustained injuries and was never provided with medical assistance. It could not be established if her missing tooth was the result of an assault.
Yesterday evening the girl returned home from playing with children in the area. Both parents questioned the child regarding her whereabouts throughout the day and again assaulted and locked her indoors with her five month old twin siblings. The injured child sought assistance from the nieghbours when her parents left for work earlier today.
A family member living in the vicinity is believed to have recorded the assault on her mobile phone. According to information received, the short video show that the grade RR (details of institution withheld) child being assaulted with a clothing iron by both her parents. The family member in possession of the video could not be immediately located.
Police Officers placed the mother under arrest and detained her at SAPS Verulam. When Officers arrived at the father’s place of employment intending to detain him but he could not be located.
Both parents face charges relating to Child Abuse/Neglect.
Parents severely assault four-year-old child in Hazelmere https://t.co/gQ8v58ySFl#ArriveAlive #Assault #Child @ReactionUnitSA pic.twitter.com/h5hMtDAuyB
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 22, 2023