Disabled child rescued from locked shack

A public safety winter campaign in Alexandra turned grim when City of Joburg officials rescued a disabled child from a locked shack.

Officials of the public safety department, police, Metro Police and councillors were conducting a walkabout in the Setwetla settlement promoting the campaign in region E when they were alerted to the child’s plight.

Police broke down the door of the shack and rescued the 8-year-old girl who was handed over to the department of social services for psychological assessment, and for placement at a place of safety.

The child is crippled, mentally retarded and was emaciated. She quickly gulped down water given to her indicating that she was dehydrated.

The mother of the child was not present and neighbours didn’t know where she was, but told police she had left in the morning with her other child who was not disabled.

They added that most times the mother returned late at night, often drunk and acted violently when approached. Others said she had recently fetched the child from her rural home in Limpopo.

“This rescue is in response to our prayers as the child had been suffering for a long time,” said a neighbour who declined to be named.

According to police, it is a case of child neglect and abuse, but their decision on what steps to take will be informed by the social development department’s report.

The child’s rescue happened a week before the commemoration of international children’s day, when children’s rights are celebrated worldwide.

Why do you think a mother would treat her child in this manner?

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