A Springs business man was arrested on Friday after the police had to force entry onto the premises where he and his family are living.
It is alleged that the man’s 11-year-old son escaped from the house last Wednesday evening after he was assaulted by his father.
Captain Johannes Ramphora, Springs police spokesman, says the child ran to the neighbours to seek help, but his father came to fetch him.
The neighbour reported the incident to the police, who went to investigate on Thursday
Ramphora says when they arrived, they found a security guard at the front gate, who refused entry to the police.
But the police lifted the gate off the rail to gain entry to the property.
Nothing could prepare the police for what was allegedly waiting for them inside the double story house.
Ramphora says the 36-year-old man was arrogant at first but later pretended to be a friend of the police.
When they asked the man where the boy was, he said the boy had ran away again and he did not know where he was.
The police found a traumatised woman inside the house, whom they believe is the boy’s mother.
The police and community police forum members searched the house and found four other children locked up in a filthy room with only one bed inside.
It is alleged that in the main bedroom the police found a number of pornography DVDs.
According to Ramphora they removed the children from the room and took them to a place of safety.
The mother also left the house with the police.
Last Friday the police visited the house again with a warrant of arrest and arrested the man.
The 11-year-old boy was found with relatives in Warden on Friday.
The man stands accused of child abuse, defeating the ends of justice, attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grevious bodily harm.
His 16-year-old daughter was taken to a clinic for a medical examination, but the outcome of the report in not yet known to the police.
He appeared in court briefly on Monday where he was not asked to plead and requested a lawyer.
The man will appear in court again today for a bail application.
At the time of publishing he had arrived at court and was in consultation with his lawyer.
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