Three Arrested After Shocking Video Shows Young Child Smoking Mandrex Pipe
South African police have arrested three individuals seen in a disturbing viral video that showed a child smoking from a pipe laced with mandrex, a powerful sedative.
The footage, widely circulated online on Tuesday night, triggered widespread condemnation and led to a swift tip-off from the public.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) confirmed the arrests and stated that the child has since been removed from the toxic environment and placed in safe care.
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JMPD Officers Act on Tip-Off
According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, officers from the K9 Unit, while on routine patrol, received a tip-off about the location and identities of the suspects seen in the footage.
“Officers immediately responded to the given address in Newclare. Upon arrival, they located the mother, who matched the description from the video. When questioned, she identified two other individuals present in the footage, including the person who recorded it,” said Fihla.
All three suspects — aged between 28 and 36 — were arrested at the scene and detained at Sophiatown SAPS.
Trio Confesses to Drug Use and Recording
Police say the three suspects admitted to using mandrex and confessed to filming the incident. One segment of the video showed the toddler lighting the drug in a bottleneck pipe for his mother, who then allegedly encouraged him to smoke.
“The suspects were promptly arrested on charges of child abuse and neglect. Their cellphones were confiscated as evidence,” Fihla confirmed.
Child Removed, Officer Under Investigation
The three-year-old boy has been removed from the home and placed under the care of the SAPS Family, Children and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, after being taken to hospital for a medical evaluation.
Meanwhile, a police officer within the FCS unit could face disciplinary action after allegedly telling a complainant they would deal with the issue “tomorrow” — sparking concerns of negligence in urgent child protection matters.
Court Appearance Scheduled
The suspects are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Thursday, where they will be formally charged with child abuse under the Domestic Violence Act.
The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of child protection laws and immediate intervention in cases of abuse, especially where drug use is involved.