Child abuse case registered after video showing child drinking alcohol goes viral

A viral video showing a child drinking what appears to be alcohol has sparked outrage. 

The short clip, shared widely among Capetonians on Thursday, shows a young boy being encouraged by an adult man to pour beer from a brown bottle into a glass and drink it.

The man can be heard saying "swallow, swallow" in Afrikaans before laughing as the child downs the drink, pours another and offers the glass to him. 

The Cape Flats Safety Forum’s Abie Isaacs has condemned the incident.

"We are clearly concerned with the video circulating where it clearly illustrates a child that has been consuming alcohol. We cal on the relevant departments, in particulra the Department of Social Development and the Western Cape Child Commissioner's Officer to look deeper into this particular matter."

Meanwhile, police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said that a child abuse case had been registered for investigation at Mitchells Plain police station.

"This case was transferred to the Mitchells Plain family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit for further investigation. Four children aged between 7 months and 11 years were removed by personnel attached to the Department of Social Development and placed in the care of safety parents."

Van Wyk said the children had been taken for medical examination, but there've been no arrests.