Tortured boy to be assessed by psychologist

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Published Jun 12, 2014

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Johannesburg - A psychologist has been instructed to assess a nine-year-old boy who was handcuffed and tortured, allegedly by a petrol station owner who accused him of stealing near Ganyesa, in the North West.

“We have... appointed a psychologist to compile a report on the state of mind of the boy to determine the extent of damage (allegedly) caused by long hours of torture,” social development MEC Fenny Gaolaolwe said in a statement on Thursday.

She said counselling had been provided to the “highly emotional” boy and his family.

The boy was ill and did not go to school on May 28 when the incident happened. He went to buy sweets from the Disipi petrol station when he was accused of stealing a packet of chips.

Disipi is about 48km outside Ganyesa.

Gaolaolwe said the boy was allegedly handcuffed to the station's burglar gate for three hours while being tortured.

“We condemn this heinous act... We cannot sit back and watch serious violation of the rights of children,” she said.

“We reiterate that nobody is above the rule of law.”

Police have not yet arrested the man as he was in Bloemfontein. - Sapa

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