Police on Wednesday appealed to the person or people who took the video of a toddler with her legs and arms bound at a crèche in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg, to assist in their investigations.

The appeal follows the arrest of a 58-year-old woman believed to be the owner of Petite Bumper Day-care, the centre where the alleged abuse took place.

"We are appealing to those who took the video to come forward and assist us with the investigations," spokesman Captain Tshekiso Mofokeng said on Wednesday.

The Daily Sun reported on Tuesday the toddler was tied up and gagged in a bathroom of the crèche, allegedly by the owner, so that she could watch television.

The paper reported that it was in possession of a video of the child trying to free herself. In the video, the child tries to free herself by moving around on the floor until she gets stuck between the toilet and the wall.

Crèche owner Labeeba Truter told the paper she was aware of the incident but had not reported it to police. She claimed she was not responsible for the abuse and she did not know it was child abuse.

Mofokeng said a case of child abuse was opened but Truter had not yet been linked to the case. He said Truter was being held for questioning as she was the owner of the crèche.

"We are aware of the crime and we are now busy with investigations. We will be interviewing workers to get more information and if she is linked she will be charged," he said.