A case of child negligence has been opened against a day care centre, in Katlehong, following allegations that an 18-month-old toddler\u2019s feet were burnt at the centre.<\/p>\n
“The case was opened on Monday, February 23 and we are, at this stage, investigating a case of child negligence,” said Capt Mega Ndobe, communications official for the Katlehong police.<\/p>
\u201cInvestigations will reveal whether the charge should be changed to assault.”<\/p>\n
The Germiston City News spoke to Anna Mahlangu, the toddler\u2019s mother, who explained that she took her son to the day care centre on Thursday, February 19, as she does every morning.<\/p>
\u201cAt around 1.30pm a teacher from the centre came to my house, and said my son refused to wear his shoes,” she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked, because he had his shoes on when I had dropped him off at the centre that morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The teacher continued to insist that Mahlangu accompany her to the centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I arrived I saw my child crying hysterically,” she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI began to question the staff at the centre and discovered he had not only refused to have his shoes put on, but also had refused to eat his morning porridge, which is normally served at 9.30am.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis led me to believe that something had happened to him earlier in the day and that the centre had attempted to cover it up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahlangu took her son to the local clinic, where staff were shocked at the extent of his injuries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe skin on his feet had already begun to peel off, even before we had left the centre,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Satisfied her child had been treated Mahlangu travelled back to the day care centre to find out what had happened to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cStaff initially said they didn\u2019t know what had happened, but later said he had burnt his feet on the hot stoep when he could not jump off it to the grass.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahlangu, however, does not believe that this is the case, instead, she believes her son’s feet were burnt with boiling water or hot porridge, on purpose.<\/p>\n
The GCN made several attempts to reach the day care centre\u2019s manager for comment, but she refused to take the calls.<\/p>\n
Mahlangu explained that the manager had visited her on the day of the incident and gave her R300 towards medical costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe has not called to check on my son\u2019s progress since,\u201d Mahlangu said.<\/p>\n
The GCN will post updates as they become available.<\/p>\n
Elsburg SAPS and the Sunshine Centre walk against woman and child abuse.<\/a><\/p>\n The Elsburg SAPS organised a march against the abuse of women and children.<\/a><\/p>\n Elsburg SAPS to tackle child abuse and neglect with a zero-tolerance approach.<\/a><\/p>\n