A Diepsloot childminder against whom a case of child abuse was withdrawn in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court this week maintains that she is innocent.

The 68-year-old woman‚ Sibonginkosi Henrietta Cebekhulu‚ was caught on cellphone footage putting her hand over a crying eight-month-old infant’s face to try to keep him quiet and heard saying “Shut up” to the child in IsiZulu.

The video footage‚ which went viral on social media this week‚ then shows Cebekhulu shaking the baby before picking up another baby and putting her on top of the crying baby.

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The eight-month-old eventually stops crying and Cebekhulu can be heard laughing.

TMG Digital visited the home where she looks after the children and can confirm that it is neither a crèche nor a day care centre‚ but a private home.

“I do not know anything. I was just sitting as I am now‚ and I have no idea who took the video that day. And it was a coincidence that I was feeding the child (name withheld). Everyone around the yard knows he doesn’t like eating. And as a result the mother even feeds him through a bottle‚” she said.

“This is the third time I’ve been accused of a similar offence but it’s the first time I’ve been arrested‚” added Cebekhulu.

According to the woman who hails from eMadadeni‚ Newcastle‚ in northern KwaZulu-Natal‚ she was arrested on Monday and spent two nights at the Diepsloot police station holding cells. She was released on Wednesday after appearing at the Randburg Magistrate’s court.

Cebekhulu‚ who was looking after her granddaughter when TMG Digital arrived at her home‚ was charged with child abuse.

According to Gauteng police spokesman Captain Mavela Masondo‚ the National Prosecuting Authority temporarily withdrew the case due to a lack of evidence. Masondo said the case would be reopened if there was sufficient evidence.