A case of child negligence has been opened against a day care centre, in Katlehong, following allegations that an 18-month-old toddler’s feet were burnt at the centre.
“The case was opened on Monday, February 23 and we are, at this stage, investigating a case of child negligence,” said Capt Mega Ndobe, communications official for the Katlehong police.
“Investigations will reveal whether the charge should be changed to assault.”
The Germiston City News spoke to Anna Mahlangu, the toddler’s mother, who explained that she took her son to the day care centre on Thursday, February 19, as she does every morning.
“At around 1.30pm a teacher from the centre came to my house, and said my son refused to wear his shoes,” she said.
“I was shocked, because he had his shoes on when I had dropped him off at the centre that morning.”
The teacher continued to insist that Mahlangu accompany her to the centre.
“When I arrived I saw my child crying hysterically,” she added.
“I began to question the staff at the centre and discovered he had not only refused to have his shoes put on, but also had refused to eat his morning porridge, which is normally served at 9.30am.
“This led me to believe that something had happened to him earlier in the day and that the centre had attempted to cover it up.”
Mahlangu took her son to the local clinic, where staff were shocked at the extent of his injuries.
“The skin on his feet had already begun to peel off, even before we had left the centre,” she said.
Satisfied her child had been treated Mahlangu travelled back to the day care centre to find out what had happened to him.
“Staff initially said they didn’t know what had happened, but later said he had burnt his feet on the hot stoep when he could not jump off it to the grass.”
Mahlangu, however, does not believe that this is the case, instead, she believes her son’s feet were burnt with boiling water or hot porridge, on purpose.
The GCN made several attempts to reach the day care centre’s manager for comment, but she refused to take the calls.
Mahlangu explained that the manager had visited her on the day of the incident and gave her R300 towards medical costs.
“She has not called to check on my son’s progress since,” Mahlangu said.
The GCN will post updates as they become available.
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