Alexandria police have arrested a teenage boy on charges of Child Abuse and Assault after he allegedly assaulted a six-year-old boy and his four-year-old sister who were living with him at his home in Alexandria.
Alexandria police have arrested a teenage boy on charges of Child Abuse and Assault after he allegedly assaulted a six-year-old boy and his four-year-old sister who were living with him at his home in Alexandria.
The teenager also apparently neglected to lock his pet puff adder in its glass cage, posing a further threat to the children and others. When police arrived at the house after receiving information about the alleged abuse, they found the puff adder at the door. It was later removed by a conservation officer from Ndlambe Municipality.
The children's mother had left them with the 19-year-old Johan Lotter and his girlfriend after moving to Middleburg to be with Lotter's father, who had previously persuaded her to move to Alexandria from Port Elizabeth six weeks ago, according to Grahamstown SAPS spokesperson Captain Mali Govender.
Govender said: "Both children were removed and taken to the Port Alfred Hospital for a medical examination. The boy had bruises on his back, buttocks and upper legs and the girl had a bruise on her back."
Govender said the woman returned after being informed about the case, and the children are currently living with a relative in Port Alfred.
A case of Child Abandonment is also being investigated by the Family Violence and Sexual Offences Unit, said Govender.
According to the website www.africanreptiles.co.za, puff adders are responsible for more fatalities than any other African snake because of their venom which is produced in large amounts. The site says: "The venom is one of the most toxic of any viper". Their venom causes severe pain, swelling, hemorrhage and nausea. Death is caused by secondary effects such as kidney failure, due to severe swellings. The long fangs (12-18 mm) assure that the venom is injected rather deeply. Even if the patient does not die, serious necrosis usually follows the swellings. In most cases of puff adder bites, the use of anti-venom is essential.
