Action Society is appalled by a disturbing video circulating online, showing a young child being handed what appears to be marijuana and encouraged to smoke it while adults laugh and watch to see if he stumbles around. This is not a joke – it is abuse of the most callous kind.
We note and welcome the swift action taken by the Johannesburg SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Following an urgent investigation, three suspects aged between 28 and 36 – including the child’s biological mother and two adult males – have been arrested. They face charges under the Domestic Violence Act for this horrific act of child abuse. The child has thankfully been rescued and placed in a place of safety. The suspects will appear before the Johannesburg Regional Court today, 31 July 2025.
“This child will need counselling and protection. What makes this even more shocking is that he knew exactly how to use the drugs – making it very unlikely that this was an isolated event,” says Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez. “This was captured on video, but we see far too many situations where children are exposed to harm and abuse at a very young age. It is unacceptable and leaves lasting scars. Without proper counselling and support, this trauma will stay with him for life.”
Beyond the trauma of being deliberately exposed to drugs, this child will now also endure the secondary trauma of being removed from the only home he has known – no matter how unhealthy that environment may have been. It is essential that he receives intensive counselling and ongoing support to help him process both the abuse and the upheaval in his life.
Public outrage over the video played a crucial role in ensuring this child was rescued and spared further abuse. Sadly, other children are not as fortunate. In the case of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, he was murdered, allegedly by his own mother. Although abuse and neglect had been reported to his teachers, no one intervened – a tragedy that might have been prevented had decisive action been taken sooner.
This case is a chilling reminder of the dangers many South African children face daily – often at the hands of those who are meant to protect them. Action Society will continue to advocate for accountability and stronger child protection measures. We will also closely monitor this case to ensure that justice is done and that the child receives the necessary support and counselling.
“No child should ever be exposed to this kind of harm. Those responsible must face the full might of the law,” Du Preez concludes.
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