Boy left in car in scorching heat
2009-12-19 17:35
Bloemfontein - Police in Bloemfontein are investigating an incident in which a mother allegedly left her three-year-old son in a car for at least half-an-hour in scorching heat on Wednesday.
She'd locked the car's doors before going shopping at the Hyperama.
Bystanders found the hysterical little boy just before 13:00. The temperature in an adjacent car was 35° C at the time.
Richard Botha, from the police's family violence, sexual offences and child protection unit is investigating the case.
"If it's found that there's sufficient grounds for prosecution, a docket will be opened in terms of the Child Protection Act," he said.
Botha is currently trying to identify the woman by means of eye witnesses and video material. But before this can be done, however, he needs the registration number of the white Volkswagen Citi Golf.
Statements will be taken from the two police officials who were first on the scene.
Dossie Theron, a witness, said the little boy must have been locked in the car for at least half an hour. His mother had presumably left him in the car because he'd been asleep.
"The little boy was standing on the seat and screaming as hard as he could. He was clutching a toy car in his hand. His face was red and it looked as if his nose had started to bleed.
"I tried to get him to pull up the lock button, but he's too small. I was considering breaking a window when the police arrived.
The mom arrived at almost the same time and when she was confronted she demanded to know if Theron was trying to imply that she is a "bad mother".
"I told her she must give the child something to drink."
The mother said she would be willing to make a statement should a complaint be laid.