NEWS TUESDAY MAY 20 2014 Outrage over infant...
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4 NEWS TUESDAY MAY 20 2014 The Star BONGANI HANS MORE than 1 500 unused and spoiled ballots papers have been found in Pinetown. The papers were found abandoned at a municipality building, which had been used as a voting station. The National Freedom Party (NFP) in KwaZulu-Natal said while nothing could be done about yesterday’s discov- ery, 12 days after the elections, it cast suspicions over the fair- ness of the results. NFP member Sbu Gwala said he had been tipped off about the box. “There were other boxes, which were col- lected soon after we made the discovery,” Gwala said. Independent Electoral Com- mission (IEC) spokesman Tha- bani Ngwira said concerns about the papers were baseless and did not affect the results. NFP councillor Wiseman Mcoyi said IEC provincial head Mawethu Mosery should explain how the papers had been abandoned. Ngwira confirmed that the ballot papers should have been taken to the warehouse for safety. JOYCE LEE [email protected] ONE HOUR. Four hundred and seventy food parcels. Thousands of desperate miners. This was the scene that played out in Marikana yesterday as various organisations got together to provide relief to striking North West platinum miners. In 2012, Marikana was the site of fatal clashes between the police and striking miners. A green tarpaulin laid in front of the Amplats Khuseleka mine was covered with clothes, food and nappies. “Amazing eh? But it’s not enough,” said Reverend Brian Smith of Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni, one of the main organisers of the campaign to give food parcels to miners on strike. Behind Smith stood a queue of more than 6 000 hungry people. But Smith’s church, Gift of the Givers, the Democratic Left Front, the Marikana Support Campaign, the Socialist Workers Party UK and the public had brought just 470 food parcels. “It’s better than nothing,” said a striker who helped set out the parcels. Within just another hour, all the goods were gone. The queues looked like they had not moved at all. A local leader of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union undertook to get the names of people, in order, in the queue. This food parcel effort was due to continue today. The initiative began a week ago, started by the Gauteng Miners Strike Community and Rehad Desai, of the Marikana Support Campaign and director of the documentary Miners Shot Down. Other community leaders, churches and the public were asked to donate funds to purchase mealies, sugar, meat and cooking oil for the striking miners on the platinum belt. More than R320 000 worth of food parcels were delivered to various Impala mines and Amplats’s Khuseleka mine yesterday. Northfield Methodist Church had pledged to keep giving food parcels for the next three months at least, said Smith, who was inspired to take part in the campaign after watching Miners Shot Down. “There are people (in the strike) who are hungry. Why would we choose not to feed hungry people?” Smith said. He added he was horrified that miners had been killed by police officers at Marikana. “In an unprotected strike you could lose your job but you should not lose your life,” he said. The workers have been on strike for four months now. With no wages coming in, the strikers and their families depend on such donations. “Gift of the Givers give food to keep the strikers strong,” said Tebogo Madikwane, a miner watching over the queues. In the queue stood both men and women, many of whom were holding young children. Some had brothers, sons or husbands working in the mines. Others had family members either injured or killed on the mines. Since then, the mines had not given the families money as compensation. “No one’s working at home,” said Christina Lehihi, whose husband died at a mine. “I have three boys, two girls and two grandchildren. How will I buy food and pay for them at school? What must I do?” Lehihi was too far back in the line to receive anything. “I want that food tomorrow. We are hungry,” she said. Many moms with babies on their backs needed food and milk formula. Right now, one mother said, they fed their babies by adding water and sugar to mealie meal. Their bodies had “diseases” so they did not breast-feed their babies. “Food for the babies. They’re not suffering like the others,” she said, clutching a bag of nappies. When all the donations had been handed out, the trucks drove away and the tarpaulin was folded up. Then the crowds broke out of their orderly lines, pushing past the red tape keeping them in place to descend on a small box of old shoes. THE DA’S GAUTENG caucus elected John Moodey as its leader yesterday. “I am proud to serve the citizens of Gauteng as caucus leader in the provincial legislature,” Moodey said. “The 23-member caucus aims at continuing to play a leading role as the alternative government and hold the ruling party to account on matters that affect Gauteng.” Moodey has been an MPL since 2004. Former DA youth leader Khume Ramulifho was elected unopposed as caucus chairman. “Moodey and Ramulifho bring with them a wealth of expertise, having served at the legislature in previous terms,” the party said in a statement. The whippery has yet to be announced. – Sapa OUR BLOOD IS BLUE: DA leader Helen Zille and new caucus leader John Moodey are mobbed by excited residents after addressing them in Ennerdale, south of Joburg. PICTURE: BONGIWE MCHUNU Moodey picked by Gauteng DA UNSURE: NFP councillor Wiseman Mcoyi wants the IEC to answer for the surfacing of 1 500 unused ballot papers. PICTURE: J ACQUES NAUDÉ MOLOKO MOLOTO [email protected] AGANGSA leader Mamphela Ramphele has backtracked on the names of members she wanted to represent the party in Parliament. The Star has learnt that Ramphele was forced to include her deputy president, Andries Tlouamma, on the latest list of new MPs after he had threatened court action. On Thursday, Ramphele had announced she was handing over the party’s “parliamen- tary reins” to chairman Mike Tshishonga and national youth co-ordinator Nyameka Mguzulo. “Nyameka and Mike will continue to fight for our princi- ples and to achieve our mani- festo within the (National) Assembly,” said Ramphele. She added she was taking a break from active politics and would not be going to Parliament. The next day, Ramphele vacillated and sent a letter to secretary of the National Assembly Masibulele Xaso that excluded the name of 23-year-old Mguzulo. The former Cape Town ANC Youth League member will be replaced by Tlouamma. Tshishonga, former deputy director-general of the Justice and Constitutional Develop- ment Department, remains on the list. Parliament’s spokesman, Luzuko Jacobs, confirmed yesterday that Ramphele’s letter had affirmed Tshishonga and Tlouamma as the incoming Agang MPs. The Star first reported on Thursday that Ramphele had tried to prevent Tlouamma from going to Parliament. This was despite the fact that Tlouamma was second on the party’s list of candi- dates for Parliament after Ram- phele. Initially, Ramphele told senior party leaders she did not want to go to Parliament. But she backpedalled after it emerged from the election results that Agang had secured two seats, saying she would be going to Parliament with Cape Town lawyer Andrew Gasnolar. This sparked ructions within Agang, with the Gauteng branch passing a motion of no confidence in Ramphele. “She just did not have the energy to fight the court battle. Andries was certainly going to interdict her,” said an insider, who did not want to be named. Tlouamma confirmed yes- terday that he was going to Par- liament. Tlouamma refused to comment on whether he’d con- sidered court action against Ramphele, but said the Gau- teng structure had agreed to withdraw the motion of no con- fidence. “She remains party leader while we prepare for the elective conference later this year.” Agang spokesman Mark Peach said a process was still under way to determine who was going to Parliament. “I am not in a position to say who is going to Parliament and who is not going,” he said. Agang officials play musical chairs as party leader vacillates FREEDOM Front Plus leader in Gauteng Jaco Mulder announced his retirement from active politics yesterday. “After many discussions with my family, friends and role-players over a period of time I have come to the conclusion that the most appropriate time would be now, following the elections and before the new term takes effect,” Mulder said. “I have for the past 20 years vigorously served the party and the cause for which the FF Plus has stood, since February 2003 as leader of the party in Gauteng and later as a member of the Gauteng legislature.” Mulder will not be taking up the party’s seat in the provincial legislature. – Sapa Gauteng FF+ leader retires Unused ballot papers cause a stir Not enough but better than nothing as NGOs donate food parcels THE SA DEMOCRATIC Teach- ers Union has expelled its pres- ident, Thobile Ntola. He was suspended last year after allowing Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi to address a union gathering in Port Elizabeth. At the time, Vavi was still under suspension. Cosatu lifted his suspension earlier this year. Ntola told the SABC yester- day his expulsion was part of a political conspiracy to silence him. “I knew from the very begin- ning even before those ‘wishy washy’ investigations started… I knew it was just to justify how they can take me out of the organisation,” said Ntola. The provincial union said it would fight his expulsion, while the National Union of Metalworkers of SA also criti- cised the decision to expel him. Sadtu has been divided with regard to Vavi – who was sus- pended for having an affair with a junior employee – with some factions calling for his removal, while others are aligned to Ntola. – Sapa Sadtu boots out president ‘CONSPIRACY’: Thobile Ntola Outrage over infant abuse 7-week-old baby’s ribs broken, knee fractured, brain injured VUYO MKIZE [email protected] A 7-week-old infant has three broken ribs, a fractured knee and brain injuries. He is recovering in an undisclosed place of safety as it is believed his parents are responsible for his injuries. The couple, a 26-year-old father and 25-year-old mother, were arrested on Saturday and appeared in the Benoni Magis- trate’s Court yesterday, where they faced charges of child abuse and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The Benoni couple were released on R3 000 bail each, sparking outrage from child protection organisations. The pair, who cannot be named as this would identify the child, were arrested after medical staff at Linmed Net- care Hospital, who had been treating the child for bronchiolitis on May 7, alerted authorities to the infant’s injuries. According to NGO Women & Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) – who are working closely with the police officers handling the case – when doc- tors X-rayed the little boy’s chest, they picked up three healing rib fractures. An MRI revealed fresh bleeding and bruising on the brain, bleeding in the retina of one eye, and a knee fracture. “We are outraged at the brutality of this crime against a tiny, helpless baby,” WMACA director Miranda Jordan- Friedmann said. “Too many toddlers and small babies are dying at the hands of their own parents. And if they are not killed, they are left brain damaged,” she continued. Gauteng provincial police spokesman Lieutenant- Colonel Lungelo Dlamini con- firmed that the couple had appeared on the charges. The matter was postponed to July 11 and the baby has been taken to a place of safety. Dr Efrat Barnes, a general practitioner and expert doctor for the Teddy Bear Clinic – an NGO that deals with abused children – said the most signif- icant injury was the head injury, and it was indicative of physical abuse. “That kind of injury would impact the development of the baby and his being able to function normally, and it could lead to an impaired mental ability,” Barnes said. She said: “The child would present with delays in walk- ing, and the injury to the ribs could have caused a rupture in the lungs. The injury to the knee could lead to permanent disability but that’s the least of the problems at this stage. “The injury to his brain is catastrophic.” Barnes said the injuries were common in a “shaken baby syndrome” case, where the child’s caregiver shakes and injures the child, leading to extensive head trauma. The impact often causes bleeding in the retina, a dam- aged spinal cord or neck, and bone fractures. “When parents take the child to the hospital, they often say the child fell from the changing table, which is almost impossible. “For a child to sustain such injuries there needs to be a lot of impact. It’s not minor,” Barnes continued. Childline director Lynne Cawood said the organisation was deeply concerned that vulnerable children were hurt in such terrible ways. “It’s such an unthinkable thing. Thank you to the people who detected it and took the necessary steps. Child abuse is never an isolated incident,” Cawood added. Jordan-Friedmann said they were seeing, far too often, the abuse of small children at the hands of young parents. “We need to urge families, extended families and commu- nities to support these par- ents, who are obviously strug- gling to cope with a very young baby,” she said. The Star was unable to reach the couple or their legal representative at the time of publication. TANYA FARBER A HORRENDOUS act of violence against a child. That’s how Childline described the case of a 28- year-old man charged with attempted murder. He appeared in court in Beaufort West, Western Cape, yesterday. While the case has been postponed, with a bail application scheduled for next week, the victim – a 2- year-old boy – is still fighting for his life after undergoing emergency surgery. The boy and his mother, who is the girlfriend of the suspect, were held captive in their home in Mandela Square on Thursday while the perpetrator allegedly tortured the boy for several hours in front of his mother. Police spokesman Malcolm Pojie said the toddler had “bite wounds on his body, while his feet were burnt with boiling water. “He had also been slapped and kicked in the head and had been forced to eat his own faeces”. Pojie said it was also clear from forensic investigations that the perpetrator had placed a brick on the boy’s chest and then repeatedly jumped on it. “It could be that drugs were involved – but we don’t know yet for sure,” said Pojie. He said another member of the SAPS went to visit the boy in hospital yesterday morning and that he was still in a serious condition. He said it was uncertain at this stage whether the boy would undergo further operations as the first operation was an emergency one. Malose Langa, an academic at Wits University who has studied modes of masculinity and their role in psychology, said: “We don’t yet know the merits of this case, so it is difficult for one to speak specifically about it. “But in more general terms, it often happens that a man feels emasculated by a break-up and then punishes a woman by hurting her child.” THE INJURIES Doctors picked up: 1 Three healing rib fractures. 2 Fresh bleeding and bruising on the brain with an MRI. 3 Bleeding in the retina 4 Knee fracture ● Graphic representation of injuries, not actual baby 1 2 4 3 Toddler bitten, kicked, slapped The injury to his brain is catastrophic
Transcript of NEWS TUESDAY MAY 20 2014 Outrage over infant...
4 NEWS TUESDAY MAY 20 2014 The Star
BONGANI HANS
MORE than 1 500 unused andspoiled ballots papers havebeen found in Pinetown.
The papers were foundabandoned at a municipalitybuilding, which had been usedas a voting station.
The National FreedomParty (NFP) in KwaZulu-Natalsaid while nothing could bedone about yesterday’s discov-ery, 12 days after the elections,it cast suspicions over the fair-ness of the results.
NFP member Sbu Gwalasaid he had been tipped off
about the box. “There wereother boxes, which were col-lected soon after we made thediscovery,” Gwala said.
Independent Electoral Com-mission (IEC) spokesman Tha-bani Ngwira said concernsabout the papers were baselessand did not affect the results.
NFP councillor WisemanMcoyi said IEC provincial headMawethu Mosery shouldexplain how the papers hadbeen abandoned.
Ngwira confirmed that theballot papers should have beentaken to the warehouse forsafety.
JOYCE [email protected]
ONE HOUR. Four hundred andseventy food parcels. Thousandsof desperate miners.
This was the scene thatplayed out in Marikanayesterday as variousorganisations got together toprovide relief to striking NorthWest platinum miners.
In 2012, Marikana was thesite of fatal clashes between thepolice and striking miners.
A green tarpaulin laid infront of the Amplats Khuselekamine was covered with clothes,food and nappies.
“Amazing eh? But it’s notenough,” said Reverend BrianSmith of Northfield MethodistChurch in Benoni, one of the
main organisers of thecampaign to give food parcelsto miners on strike.
Behind Smith stood a queueof more than 6 000 hungrypeople. But Smith’s church, Giftof the Givers, the DemocraticLeft Front, the MarikanaSupport Campaign, the SocialistWorkers Party UK and thepublic had brought just 470 foodparcels.
“It’s better than nothing,”said a striker who helped set outthe parcels.
Within just another hour, allthe goods were gone.
The queues looked like theyhad not moved at all.
A local leader of theAssociation of Mineworkersand Construction Unionundertook to get the names of
people, in order, in the queue. This food parcel effort was
due to continue today.The initiative began a week
ago, started by the GautengMiners Strike Community andRehad Desai, of the MarikanaSupport Campaign and directorof the documentary Miners Shot
Down.
Other community leaders,churches and the public wereasked to donate funds topurchase mealies, sugar, meatand cooking oil for the strikingminers on the platinum belt.
More than R320 000 worth offood parcels were delivered tovarious Impala mines andAmplats’s Khuseleka mineyesterday.
Northfield MethodistChurch had pledged to keep
giving food parcels for the nextthree months at least, saidSmith, who was inspired to takepart in the campaign afterwatching Miners Shot Down.
“There are people (in thestrike) who are hungry. Whywould we choose not to feedhungry people?” Smith said.
He added he was horrifiedthat miners had been killed bypolice officers at Marikana.“In an unprotected strike youcould lose your job but youshould not lose your life,” hesaid.
The workers have been onstrike for four months now.
With no wages coming in,the strikers and their familiesdepend on such donations.
“Gift of the Givers give foodto keep the strikers strong,” said
Tebogo Madikwane, a minerwatching over the queues.
In the queue stood both menand women, many of whomwere holding young children.
Some had brothers, sons orhusbands working in the mines.
Others had family memberseither injured or killed on themines.
Since then, the mines hadnot given the families money ascompensation.
“No one’s working at home,”said Christina Lehihi, whosehusband died at a mine.
“I have three boys, two girlsand two grandchildren. Howwill I buy food and pay for themat school? What must I do?”
Lehihi was too far back inthe line to receive anything.“I want that food tomorrow. We
are hungry,” she said.Many moms with babies on
their backs needed food andmilk formula.
Right now, one mother said,they fed their babies by addingwater and sugar to mealie meal.
Their bodies had “diseases”so they did not breast-feed theirbabies.
“Food for the babies. They’renot suffering like the others,”she said, clutching a bag ofnappies.
When all the donations hadbeen handed out, the trucksdrove away and the tarpaulinwas folded up.
Then the crowds broke out oftheir orderly lines, pushing pastthe red tape keeping them inplace to descend on a small boxof old shoes.
THE DA’S GAUTENG caucuselected John Moodey as itsleader yesterday.
“I am proud to serve thecitizens of Gauteng ascaucus leader in theprovincial legislature,”Moodey said.
“The 23-member caucusaims at continuing to play a
leading role as thealternative government andhold the ruling party toaccount on matters thataffect Gauteng.”
Moodey has been anMPL since 2004.
Former DA youth leaderKhume Ramulifho waselected unopposed as
caucus chairman.“Moodey and
Ramulifho bring with them a wealth of expertise,having served at thelegislature in previousterms,” the party said in astatement.
The whippery has yet tobe announced. – Sapa
OUR BLOOD IS BLUE: DA leader Helen Zille and new caucus leader John Moodey are mobbed by excited residents after addressing them in Ennerdale, south of Joburg. PICTURE: BONGIWE MCHUNU
Moodey picked by Gauteng DA
UNSURE: NFP councillor Wiseman Mcoyi wants the IEC to answer forthe surfacing of 1 500 unused ballot papers. PICTURE: JACQUES NAUDÉ
MOLOKO [email protected]
AGANGSA leader MamphelaRamphele has backtracked onthe names of members shewanted to represent the partyin Parliament.
The Star has learnt thatRamphele was forced toinclude her deputy president,Andries Tlouamma, on thelatest list of new MPs after hehad threatened court action.
On Thursday, Ramphele hadannounced she was handing
over the party’s “parliamen-tary reins” to chairman MikeTshishonga and national youthco-ordinator NyamekaMguzulo.
“Nyameka and Mike willcontinue to fight for our princi-ples and to achieve our mani-festo within the (National)Assembly,” said Ramphele.
She added she was taking
a break from active politics andwould not be going toParliament.
The next day, Ramphelevacillated and sent a letter tosecretary of the NationalAssembly Masibulele Xaso thatexcluded the name of23-year-old Mguzulo.
The former Cape Town ANCYouth League member will be
replaced by Tlouamma. Tshishonga, former deputy
director-general of the Justiceand Constitutional Develop-ment Department, remains onthe list.
Parliament’s spokesman,Luzuko Jacobs, confirmedyesterday that Ramphele’sletter had affirmed Tshishongaand Tlouamma as the
incoming Agang MPs. The Star first reported on
Thursday that Ramphele hadtried to prevent Tlouammafrom going to Parliament.
This was despite the factthat Tlouamma was second on the party’s list of candi-dates for Parliament after Ram-phele.
Initially, Ramphele told
senior party leaders she did notwant to go to Parliament. Butshe backpedalled after itemerged from the electionresults that Agang had securedtwo seats, saying she would begoing to Parliament with CapeTown lawyer Andrew Gasnolar.
This sparked ructionswithin Agang, with the Gauteng branch passing a
motion of no confidence inRamphele.
“She just did not have theenergy to fight the court battle.Andries was certainly going to interdict her,” said aninsider, who did not want to benamed.
Tlouamma confirmed yes-terday that he was going to Par-liament. Tlouamma refused to
comment on whether he’d con-sidered court action againstRamphele, but said the Gau-teng structure had agreed towithdraw the motion of no con-fidence. “She remains partyleader while we prepare for theelective conference later thisyear.”
Agang spokesman MarkPeach said a process was stillunder way to determine whowas going to Parliament.
“I am not in a position to saywho is going to Parliament andwho is not going,” he said.
Agang officials play musical chairs as party leader vacillates
FREEDOM Front Plus leaderin Gauteng Jaco Mulderannounced his retirementfrom active politics yesterday.
“After many discussionswith my family, friends androle-players over a period oftime I have come to theconclusion that the mostappropriate time would benow, following the electionsand before the new term takes
effect,” Mulder said.“I have for the past 20
years vigorously served theparty and the cause for whichthe FF Plus has stood, sinceFebruary 2003 as leader of theparty in Gauteng and later as amember of the Gautenglegislature.”
Mulder will not be takingup the party’s seat in theprovincial legislature. – Sapa
Gauteng FF+ leader retires
Unused ballot papers cause a stir
Not enough but better than nothing as NGOs donate food parcelsTHE SA DEMOCRATIC Teach-ers Union has expelled its pres-ident, Thobile Ntola.
He was suspended last yearafter allowing Cosatu generalsecretary Zwelinzima Vavi toaddress a union gathering inPort Elizabeth.
At the time, Vavi was stillunder suspension. Cosatu liftedhis suspension earlier this year.
Ntola told the SABC yester-day his expulsion was part of apolitical conspiracy to silencehim.
“I knew from the very begin-ning even before those ‘wishywashy’ investigations started…I knew it was just to justify howthey can take me out of theorganisation,” said Ntola.
The provincial union said itwould fight his expulsion,
while the National Union ofMetalworkers of SA also criti-cised the decision to expel him.
Sadtu has been divided withregard to Vavi – who was sus-pended for having an affairwith a junior employee – withsome factions calling for hisremoval, while others arealigned to Ntola. – Sapa
Sadtu boots out president
‘CONSPIRACY’: Thobile Ntola
Outrage over infant abuse7-week-old baby’s ribs broken, knee fractured, brain injuredVUYO [email protected]
A7-week-old infant hasthree broken ribs, afractured knee and
brain injuries.He is recovering in an
undisclosed place of safety asit is believed his parents areresponsible for his injuries.
The couple, a 26-year-oldfather and 25-year-old mother,were arrested on Saturday andappeared in the Benoni Magis-trate’s Court yesterday, wherethey faced charges of childabuse and assault with intentto do grievous bodily harm.
The Benoni couple werereleased on R3 000 bail each,sparking outrage from childprotection organisations.
The pair, who cannot benamed as this would identifythe child, were arrested aftermedical staff at Linmed Net-care Hospital, who had beentreating the child forbronchiolitis on May 7, alerted
authorities to the infant’sinjuries.
According to NGO Women& Men Against Child Abuse(WMACA) – who are workingclosely with the police officershandling the case – when doc-tors X-rayed the little boy’schest, they picked up threehealing rib fractures.
An MRI revealed freshbleeding and bruising on thebrain, bleeding in the retina ofone eye, and a knee fracture.
“We are outraged at thebrutality of this crime againsta tiny, helpless baby,” WMACAdirector Miranda Jordan-Friedmann said.
“Too many toddlers andsmall babies are dying at thehands of their own parents.And if they are not killed,they are left brain damaged,”she continued.
Gauteng provincial policespokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini con-firmed that the couple hadappeared on the charges.
The matter was postponedto July 11 and the baby hasbeen taken to a place of safety.
Dr Efrat Barnes, a generalpractitioner and expert doctorfor the Teddy Bear Clinic – anNGO that deals with abused
children – said the most signif-icant injury was the headinjury, and it was indicative ofphysical abuse.
“That kind of injury wouldimpact the development of thebaby and his being able tofunction normally, and it couldlead to an impaired mentalability,” Barnes said.
She said: “The child wouldpresent with delays in walk-ing, and the injury to the ribscould have caused a rupture inthe lungs. The injury to theknee could lead to permanentdisability but that’s the least ofthe problems at this stage.
“The injury to his brain iscatastrophic.”
Barnes said the injurieswere common in a “shakenbaby syndrome” case, wherethe child’s caregiver shakesand injures the child, leadingto extensive head trauma.
The impact often causesbleeding in the retina, a dam-aged spinal cord or neck, andbone fractures.
“When parents take thechild to the hospital, they oftensay the child fell from thechanging table, which isalmost impossible.
“For a child to sustain suchinjuries there needs to be a lotof impact. It’s not minor,”Barnes continued.
Childline director Lynne
Cawood said the organisationwas deeply concerned thatvulnerable children were hurtin such terrible ways.
“It’s such an unthinkablething. Thank you to the peoplewho detected it and took thenecessary steps. Child abuse isnever an isolated incident,”
Cawood added.Jordan-Friedmann said
they were seeing, far too often,the abuse of small children atthe hands of young parents.
“We need to urge families,extended families and commu-nities to support these par-ents, who are obviously strug-gling to cope with a very
young baby,” she said. The Star was unable to
reach the couple or their legalrepresentative at the time ofpublication.
TANYA FARBER
A HORRENDOUS act ofviolence against a child.
That’s how Childlinedescribed the case of a 28-year-old man charged withattempted murder. Heappeared in court in BeaufortWest, Western Cape,yesterday.
While the case has beenpostponed, with a bailapplication scheduled fornext week, the victim – a 2-year-old boy – is still fightingfor his life after undergoingemergency surgery.
The boy and his mother,who is the girlfriend of thesuspect, were held captive intheir home in MandelaSquare on Thursday while the
perpetrator allegedlytortured the boy for several hours in front of his mother.
Police spokesman MalcolmPojie said the toddler had“bite wounds on his body,while his feet were burntwith boiling water.
“He had also been slappedand kicked in the head andhad been forced to eat hisown faeces”.
Pojie said it was also clearfrom forensic investigationsthat the perpetrator hadplaced a brick on the boy’schest and then repeatedlyjumped on it.
“It could be that drugswere involved – but we don’tknow yet for sure,” said Pojie.
He said another member
of the SAPS went to visit theboy in hospital yesterdaymorning and that he was stillin a serious condition.
He said it was uncertain atthis stage whether the boywould undergo furtheroperations as the firstoperation was an emergencyone.
Malose Langa, anacademic at Wits Universitywho has studied modes ofmasculinity and their role inpsychology, said: “We don’tyet know the merits of thiscase, so it is difficult for oneto speak specifically about it.
“But in more generalterms, it often happens that aman feels emasculated by abreak-up and then punishes awoman by hurting her child.”
THE INJURIESDoctorspicked up: 1 Three healing rib fractures.2 Fresh bleeding andbruising on the brain with an MRI.3 Bleeding in the retina 4 Knee fracture
● Graphic representation of injuries, notactual baby
1
2
4
3
Toddler bitten,kicked, slapped
The injury to his
brain iscatastrophic
