Mother accused of child drug incident to appear in court

FILE | Mandrax drugs.

A woman and two others arrested after a video shows the mother allegedly encouraging her four-year-old child to smoke drugs are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Regional Court this morning.

The footage widely shared on social media further shows the woman placing a bottle neck with a lit mandrax drug on her son’s mouth and him subsequently inhaling it.

The three suspects were arrested in Newclare, Johannesburg on Tuesday and the child has since been taken to a place of safety.

Gauteng Social Development spokesperson Motsamai Motlhaolwa says the department is outraged.

Motlhaolwa says, “We are gravely outraged by the irresponsible behaviour of the parents and we further commit to investigating the incident in order to provide necessary intervention that will help the child.”

He says, “As a department, we appeal to the citizens to forward such videos to the police or to the department so that action can be taken against perpetrators and you know we can be able to ensure that the children’s rights are protected.”