Daycare worker sentenced for assaulting half-naked toddler
Police have arrested a woman who was caught on camera assaulting a half-naked toddler in class.
Corporal punishment is banned in South Africa. But some teachers continue to enforce it on their learners.
A video went viral on social media showing a daycare worker beating up a half-naked toddler in front of other learners.
In the video, the toddler can be heard crying, while the woman, Noria Ziburawa (50), continued to beat him.
"On Thursday, 13 January 2022, the information was operationalised, leading investigators to Potchefstroom Central Business District (CBD), where the suspect was located in a building in Walter Sisulu Street," reads a statement from the police.
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"Moreover, police also found 32 children in the care of Ziburawa, including the toddler that was seen assaulted on the video.
All stakeholders including Social Welfare were summoned to the scene. Consequently, Ziburawa was immediately arrested and appeared before a court for the first time on Friday, 14 January 2022," reads the statement.
The woman was sentenced for assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and for being illegal in the country in terms of immigration Act 2002, Act No. 13 of 2002.
Ziburawa pleaded guilty on both charges and was sentenced as follows:
Count 1: Assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) - R3000.00 fine or 18 months imprisonment, suspended for 5 years on condition that she is not convicted of a similar charge during the period of suspension.
Count 2: Illegal Immigrant - R800.00 fine or 6 months imprisonment of which half of the sentence is suspended for 3 years on condition that she is not convicted of a similar charge during the period of suspension.
Lieutenant General Sello Kwena lauded the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Jacob Ranoko from the Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, for a job well done.
*The video below contains sensitive footage*
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