Mitchells Plain, November 27, 2025 – A disturbing 13-second video has come to light in Mitchells Plain, depicting a six-year-old boy from Tafelsig being compelled to drink alcohol, prompting immediate investigations by authorities.
The footage, which surfaced on October 20, captures the child squatting on the ground while holding a bottle of Black Label beer in one hand and a glass in the other. In the video, the boy consumes a glass of the beer after a male voice instructs him with the words “Sluk, sluk,” meaning “drink it, swallow it” in Afrikaans. The child displays visible signs of discomfort from the taste but maintains composure, pours another glass from the bottle, and hands it to the man, who is heard laughing in response.
Surrounding the boy in the video are multiple bottles of beer placed on the ground. The child’s arms and legs exhibit noticeable bruising, as observed in the footage. The incident took place in an unspecified location within Tafelsig, a suburb of Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats.
Following the video’s emergence, the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have launched a joint investigation into the matter. Details on the male individual’s identity or relationship to the child have not been disclosed as the probe continues.
This event echoes a similar case reported weeks earlier in Woodstock, where a video showed a mother feeding alcohol to her toddler. That footage, which circulated widely on social media and among Metro Police Neighbourhood Safety Officers (NSOs) and other safety personnel, led to swift action. NSOs located the woman by searching known hotspots and nearby areas, resulting in the child’s rescue and removal from her custody. The toddler was transported to the SAPS victim support unit and subsequently placed under DSD care.
In the Woodstock case, Ward Councillor Yusuf Mohamed noted that the mother had a prior record of neglect. Records indicate an earlier incident where she, allegedly under the influence, dropped the child, prompting authorities to place the toddler in a place of safety for approximately six days before returning the child to her care. Following the alcohol-feeding video, the child was again removed and remains in a secure facility.
SAPS has confirmed awareness of the Woodstock video through the local station. No further updates on arrests or charges have been released in either incident as of today.
The Mitchells Plain video’s release has highlighted ongoing concerns in the Western Cape regarding child welfare in areas affected by substance abuse. Investigations into both cases remain active, with authorities prioritizing the safety of the children involved.
