Shocking allegation: Grandmother claims daycare staff assaulted grandchild
The family is urgently calling for justice and accountability after shocking allegations emerged that a five-year-old grandchild, who has autism, was assaulted at a local daycare centre.
A MEREBANK grandmother has come forward with allegations that her five-year-old grandchild was assaulted by staff members at a local daycare centre. The grandmother’s claims, which include accusations of physical abuse against her autistic grandchild, have sparked a wave of shock and concern within the community.
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The granny, who cannot be named to protect the child’s identity, has reported the incident to the police and is speaking out about her concerns over the centre’s alleged acts of negligence.
According to her, the child came home from the daycare with visible injuries on July 17, which appeared to be the result of forceful handling by an adult.
“I have been sending her to this academy since 2022. All these months, she has been crying every time I took her to the academy. I regret ignoring the signs that she was not happy at the centre.”
Her claims are supported by medical evidence. “I took her to the doctor who confirmed that the child had adult fingerprints on her body. I am still searching for answers as to why my child was assaulted while in the hands of the academy,” she added.
The child finds it difficult to interact with people and is reportedly still traumatised by the incident. “My granddaughter’s condition makes it hard for her to communicate her feelings and experiences, and this incident has only added to her distress,” she said.
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In response to the allegations, the Haybrid Learning Academy denied the allegations.
However, the police are investigating the case, and the child’s parents call for the full extent of the law to be applied to those responsible for the child’s injuries.
“This is not just about me or the child. It’s about making sure that no parent has to go through what I am going through right now. I want the community to be aware of what happened and to hold this centre accountable for their negligence,” she added.
The owner of the academy, Joelene Nadasan, referred all questions to her attorney, Judy Reddy, who denied the allegations levelled against their client.
In a statement, Reddy said, “She shared a close bond with the child and is highly saddened that the child was injured by a source unknown at this stage. The child was in her care for about two years and had developed tremendously.
“The child was free of any injuries when she was picked up by her mother and grandmother at 13:30 on the day in question. My client was not given the opportunity to discuss the matter with the parents, nor did she see the injuries on the child.
“The father communicated with my client only via WhatsApp about eight hours after the child was left in her care.
“The only picture that indicated light bruising on the child’s thigh was forwarded. The matter is being adjudicated in court, and our client will assist with the investigation.”
As the investigation unfolds, the parents remain hopeful for justice and are advocating for changes that will prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
Police spokesperson for the eThekwini District, Captain Carmen Rhynes, said the matter was reported to the police for further investigation.
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