South Africans have opened their hearts to an abused child. Gifts have streamed into the burns unit at Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth for Annie*, a six-year-old girl whose mother, 22, allegedly held her hands on a hot stove plate while her stepfather beat her naked body with a belt.

South Africans have opened their hearts to an abused child. Gifts have streamed into the burns unit at Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth for Annie*, a six-year-old girl whose mother, 22, allegedly held her hands on a hot stove plate while her stepfather beat her naked body with a belt.

Sister Phumla Booi said: "Since her story was told in Sowetan, more than 500 gifts have arrived."

A social worker at the hospital, Pamela Rubushe, said Annie's grandmother had come forward and other family members were also interested in looking after the girl.

Annie would spend Christmas and New Year in hospital, she said. - Mthetho Ndoni (*Not her real name.)