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Cape Town - Johannesburg residents are angered about an apparent child abuse incident that took place in broad daylight.
According to a Fourways Review report, a mother was seen beating her child at the Fourways Gardens Shopping Centre on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at the La Nouva restaurant and was witnessed by co-owner Kyri Tjirkos.
According to Tjirkos, a restaurant patron witnessed the woman beating her son while trying to feed him.
“The boy wasn’t eating properly, maybe he didn’t want the food, and the woman became frustrated and began to smack [the boy] across the head and try to force-feed him,” Tjirkos told the Fourways Review.
The mother reacted violently when people attempted to approach her over the violent behaviour toward the child some described as a special needs individual.
16 Days of Activism
READ: 'Springs monster' and wife back in court
“A man sitting nearby approached her, and I think at that point she lost complete control. She began swearing at the people watching her, hitting the child more and even overturned one of the tables, breaking the plates that were on it,” said Tjirkos.
“At this point, I went outside and tried to calm the man down, because I thought that he was making her more angry and I didn’t want the situation to get physical. Then the [shopping centre’s] security guard arrived on the scene and began comforting the young boy who was crying,” he added.
Following the incident co-owner Tyrone Dewitt and Tjirkos had a discussion with the woman’s husband about the regular customer’s behaviour in an effort to ensure the child’s safety.
“It was shocking and, as a father myself, I don’t care about what people may be saying about the restaurant – the thing that matters to me is the boy’s well-being. And while we are trying to work with his father, if his response to this is not appropriate, I myself, will take measures to do what’s best for the child with authorities,” Tjirkos told Fourways Review.
Child abuse cases have made news headlines even as the country participates in the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
In Pretoria, the so-called “Springs monster” and his wife face charges of abusing their five children including charges of rape and attempted murder.
And in KwaZulu-Natal, a woman was charged with negligence recently after she abandoned her 6-month-old baby with a friend to go on a drinking binge.
A child abuse probe is also underway at Wynberg Girls High School in in Cape Town after allegations that black girls in the hostel were targeted by the house mother.
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