Children found chained to bed

CHAINED to a bed for eight years, allegedly by his parents, a nine- year-old Johannesburg boy has never known freedom.

As the youngster yesterday received counselling from social workers, his father appeared in the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on charges of child neglect.

The boy, along with his two brothers and sister, who is believed to be pregnant, were freed on Friday after police received a tip-off that they were being kept chained up.

The siblings – aged 9, 14, 18 and 24 – have allegedly never been to school or received medical attention.

All apparently showed visible signs of injuries to their ankles and wrists from having been shackled by chains to a bed.

The rescue follows the release two weeks ago of five Springs children, who were allegedly held captive for years by their father.

Friday's rescue came after the 24-year-old, who is believed to be mentally disabled, escaped from his family's two-roomed home at the Nobuhle hostel in Alexandra.

A police source said a neighbour, who heard a commotion as the man dragged his 24-year-old son back to their house, alerted police.

"When police arrived they found the front door chained shut. They managed to force their way inside where they found the children chained up in the bedroom.

"They were in a terrible condition ... they were terrified.

"They appear to have never gone to school and never been outside of their home," the officer said.

Detectives are investigating whether the couple's teenage daughter is pregnant and, if so, who impregnated her.

"This is an incredibly sensitive case. Social workers are trying to establish whether the children are mentally disabled," the source said.

Alexandra resident Musa Mabika said the children's father worked as a gardener in Sandton.

"None of the neighbours knew that the husband and wife even had children. The house was always locked. The children were never heard. It is a total shock," the resident said.

A neighbour, asking not to be named, said: "They were very private and kept to themselves."

She said the father told neighbours that he was afraid for his children and did not want them to get hurt if they went outside.

"But he is the one who has hurt them. How can you do this to your children? Keep them chained up like animals?" she asked.

Gauteng police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the suspect had appeared in court on charges of child neglect.

"We cannot comment further at this stage," he said. - Graeme Hosken