By Everson Luhanga (Scrolla.Africa)
news@alexreporter.co.za
For five days now, a three-year-old toddler has been fighting for his life in the Leratong Hospital near Kagiso on the Westrand.
He was allegedly brutally assaulted by his stepdad, who is now on the run from the police.
The child’s mother told Scrolla.Africa that on Sunday, 31 October she was at church when her boyfriend’s brother rushed into the church in the middle of a healing session and took her outside to speak to her.
“My boyfriend’s brother told me my son has been beaten up by the community and has been rushed to hospital,” she said.
“I couldn’t understand. When I asked him who in the community would beat my son and for what reason, I couldn’t get an answer.”
She said she rushed to Leratong Hospital and as she entered the ward where her son was, her heart sank. She was confronted with an image that a mother should never have to see.
“I found my son swollen and bleeding. His eyes were swollen, he had lashes on his body and his arm was in plaster,” she said.
“When he saw me he started crying: ‘Mommy, daddy beat me up.’”
She said she started crying with her son.
“My son was in pain. He looked helpless,” she said.
“He is usually a vibrant, healthy child. But on Sunday, I saw him with a broken arm and in terrible pain.”
She said she has no idea what the little boy did to be assaulted by the man she thought loved her and her two children.
“I’m still searching for answers,” she said.
She has been going to the hospital every day to visit her child.
She alleges it’s not the first time her boyfriend has been violent, and says he beat her on 9 September when she tried to protect her son from him.
“I couldn’t allow him to abuse my son while I watched. When I protected my son I was beaten as well,” she said, but did not report that incident.
This latest beating is being investigated. Kagiso police spokesperson Captain Solomon Sibiya confirmed the incident. He said police are on the hunt for the suspect who has so far been in hiding.
“We are appealing to anybody who has information about the whereabouts of the suspect to please report to the police,” said Captain Sibiya.
This article was first published by Scrolla.Africa
