Action Society called for a zero tolerance approach for perpetrators of violence against children following the release of a 22 year old woman who threw boiling water on a four-year-old on 24 June this year. Shortly after her arrest, she was granted bail of a measly R3000 in September. The burn victim’s family was never informed of her release.
“We believe that the justice system needs to take a stronger stance when dealing with perpetrators of violence against children. Granting them bail sends the wrong message. We lost 293 children to murder in the first quarter of this year alone. That is three children per day. Every day four children narrowly escape death due to attempted murder. Every day sixteen children are assaulted with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm,” said Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm.
According to the boy’s mother, the toddler rushed home, crying in shock and pain, with scars covering his body. She told Action Society that he was playing with his friends when the incident happened. The mother said the accused threw boiling water on him because he was trespassing on her yard and playing near the gate of her house when she got angry and thew the water on him. She explained that her son was in pain for days and couldn’t stop crying at night because of the sheer, unrelenting pain.
The Langa community took to the streets in anger and marched to the police station, demanding that the woman be arrested. Action Society will fight with the family to the bitter end to bring justice to this young and innocent boy. The woman who committed this horrendous and senseless act appeared before the Bishop Lavis Court today, however the case has been postponed to 25 October, much to the family’s frustration.
Violence against children has reached unprecedented heights in South Africa and ranks as one of the most dangerous countries for children. Join Action Society to help a community that protects the young and innocent and ensure those who harm them are brought to justice.
