A Hout Bay father is accused of beating his two-month-old son and burning him with a cigarette to stop him from crying. The infant is currently being treated at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, with family members indicating that doctors believe he may have suffered a fractured skull.

These were the shocking details read out in court by the state during the first appearance of the 21-year-old man at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. The father may not be identified in order to protect the infant, who is a minor. He is facing a charge of assault to cause grievous bodily harm.

Neatly dressed in a blue hooded jacket, the father appeared emotional when he saw his mother and relatives in the public gallery. The state said the man was the two-month-old’s biological father, which left people gasping inside the courtroom when they heard what the case was about. The state revealed that the father had allegedly beaten and burnt the infant to stop him from crying and that the mother had put the baby to sleep after the assault.

“It is alleged that on Sunday, November 9,  the mother and the accused were at home with the child, and at 3 am the child was crying,” the state detailed. “The accused became frustrated, took the infant from his mother, and began to assault the child. He hit the child on the back and the bum. The mother took the child and put him to sleep.”

The state explained that when the mother woke in the morning, she found that the infant had been burnt. The child’s paternal grandmother and mother could be heard crying in the gallery as the description of the alleged attack was read out. The state indicated that they were waiting for an additional statement from the mother while the accused’s bail information would be requested.

The father informed the court that he would be using the assistance of a legal aid lawyer, and the matter was postponed to November 19. Outside court, the infant’s maternal family told Cape Argus they were calling for justice and had visited the baby at the hospital, who potentially has a fractured skull. The mother’s cousin, Nolan Williams, was accompanied by the infant’s great-grandfather, Isaac Williams, who also attended the court case.

EXCLUSIVE | Nolan Williams, from the maternal family of the 2-month-old Hout Bay baby allegedly beaten and burnt by her father, spoke to the Cape Argus outside Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.
The 21-year-old dad cannot be named to protect the victim.#CapeArgus #HoutBay pic.twitter.com/cl1z5SY5lt

— Cape Argus (@TheCapeArgus) November 12, 2025

“He was beaten on the bum, he was burnt with a cigarette in the face, and he has a knob at the back of his head, and the doctors have said, after confirmation from Red Cross Children’s Hospital, he has possible skull injuries, a fractured skull.

“These things you see on social media, but when it happens to your own family, it is a different feeling and experience. We want justice; what he did was wrong. He is not a bad person; he grew up in front of me. Our families, we are hurt, and we are grateful that the baby is still alive.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the father’s arrest, which took place on Sunday: “A 21-year-old male was arrested, and he will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court. for the mentioned charge. According to reports, the incident happened on November 11 at 3am in a bungalow, Die Sloot, Hout Bay. The child is currently hospitalised at a children’s hospital.” Van Wyk said the initial charge was attempted murder.

The Hout Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) said it was deeply shocked and outraged by the incident. “The South African Police Service (SAPS) acted swiftly, and the suspect has since been arrested. The case is currently being investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit.

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