Disturbing video prompts calls for justice after mother allegedly allows child to smoke

A child is seen holding a lighter/match and attempting to ignite what appears to be a drug-filled pipe. The mother takes a puff, then casually passes it to the child. Without hesitation, the boy mimics the action, inhaling from the pipe not once, but twice, as onlookers laugh in the background. 

The now-viral 32-second video showing a toddler standing in front of a woman believed to be his mother has sent shockwaves nationally.

Children’s organisations have expressed outrage over a disturbing video that has rocked the Newclare community in Johannesburg, where a vulnerable four-year-old child is seen being encouraged to smoke from a pipe, allegedly by his mother.

The footage has ignited calls for justice. The incident, which occurred on the night of July 29, quickly spread across social media, sparking immediate action from the Newclare community. Horrified by what they saw, residents wasted no time; they confronted the mother at her home, demanding accountability. 

In another video, furious community members can be seen confronting the mother at her home, demanding answers and accountability. Voices are raised as she is questioned about the whereabouts of the two other individuals who were allegedly present when she gave the child the pipe to smoke. The scene is tense and emotional, reflecting a community deeply shaken and united in its call for justice.

Megan Briede, Director of Programmes at Save the Children South Africa, condemned the video as a shocking breach of the child’s right to safety and urged for urgent community vigilance, improved family support, and tougher enforcement of child protection measures.

She further explained that exposing a child to harmful substances like mandrax at such a young age can cause both immediate and lasting damage. In the short term, the child may suffer physical symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or even poisoning, while psychologically, they may develop fear, anxiety, and emotional instability.

Briede also added that Parents facing addiction are urged to seek help and avoid exposing children to danger. Every child deserves a safe, supportive home.  

“There’s no shame in asking for help, but silence can cost a child’s life.”

Echoing these concerns, Dr Shaheda Omar, director of the Teddy Bear Foundation board and clinical director, said the incident is heartbreaking and dangerous, exposing a defenceless child to abuse and normalising harmful behaviour they can not yet understand.

Omar emphasised that the child’s safety is paramount, referencing the Children’s Act and Section 28 of the Constitution, which guarantee every child’s right to protection, health, and care. She stated that this child’s rights were violated, making urgent intervention necessary. 

She added that in cases like this, the foundation helps abused children and their families by collaborating with the wider community and systems to offer comprehensive healing and psychosocial support.

“No action is an island; healing requires working with the broader system to best support the child,” Omar said.

Faeeza Marshman, an activist from Bosmont, Newclare, Westbury, and surrounding areas, voiced alarm following the tragedy at Bertha Flats, highlighting the grim reality of addiction in the community. 

She said it’s common to see mothers battling substance abuse, using their children to beg on the streets. Many rely on social grants not to care for their kids, but to fuel their addiction, while the children are left hungry, barefoot, and running through traffic without supervision.

“The community claims they knew the parents were users, but not that a child was being abused. How many more cases like this are hidden behind  closed doors?”

She emphasised that communities such as Bosmont, Newclare, Westbury, and nearby areas are facing a dire crisis. With poverty, joblessness, rampant drug abuse, and the widespread neglect of children, a humanitarian emergency is unfolding before everyone’s eyes, yet it continues to be met with silence and inaction.

“This is not just a community problem; it is a national disgrace.”

She also urged the Department of Social Development, SAPS, local authorities, and civil society to join forces and act swiftly. She emphasised that the time for inaction is over and vowed that no more children should suffer or be lost due to systemic failures.

The child was taken to the Sophiatown police station around midnight by Johannesburg Metro Police, accompanied by his father, grandmother, and concerned community members.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that the child received medical attention at a hospital before being placed in a place of safety. She added that the mother and two other suspects were swiftly arrested and charged with child abuse under the Domestic Violence Act.

“The trio, aged between 28 and 36, will be charged with child abuse under domestic violence. They will appear before the Johannesburg Regional Court on July 31.”

Muridili said the alleged delay by an FCS officer in responding to the case is under investigation. She added that Gauteng’s FCS unit has 22 offices and 66 detectives on standby to handle such matters swiftly.

In recent months, South Africa has been shaken by shocking cases of mothers accused of abusing, trafficking, or even killing their children, revealing a disturbing and tragic trend reported widely by The Star.