Toddler allegedly taking drugs: Weekend in jail for Westbury mom

FOUR people appeared before the Johannesburg Regional Court yesterday, facing charges including child abuse, after a distressing video showing a toddler smoking a mandrax-laced pipe went viral.

- JONISAYI MAROMO

The four people, including the mother of the four-year-old boy, were remanded in custody until Monday next week. The four have also been charged with attempted murder for making the minor inhale the drugs.

Community members and political party officials gathered outside the court, condemning the actions of the four accused people.

On Wednesday, IOL reported that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) announced the swift arrest of people involved in the distressing video, where a toddler was encouraged to smoke a pipe. The video went viral, leading to a tip-off, which led to the arrests. A police officer from the SA Police Services family, children and sexual offences unit could also be in hot water after they allegedly told a complainant they would deal with the complaint “tomorrow”.

The video showed a young boy lighting drugs in a bottle neck for his mother, who then allegedly encouraged him to smoke, all in the presence of other adults.