A social worker testified in the Western Cape High Court that she had “looked” at Jeremiah Ruiters during her house visit to the family and determined everything was fine.
The 33-year-old woman from the Department of Social Development (DSD), who asked the court to withhold her name from the media, said she received a referral from her supervisor to do a house visit after the toddler broke his arm in March 2017.
Jeremiah was killed in June 2017.
His mother Abigail Ruiters, 31, and her ex-berk Ameerodien Peters, 28, are on trial for the rape and murder of the tot at their home in Salamander Square, Kensington.
ACCUSED: Ma Abigail Ruiters
The duo face two more charges of child abuse relating to Ruiters’ two surviving children.
Peters previously testified that Jeremiah broke his arm after
falling off a table.
The social worker said the referral was for alleged physical assault.
“Yes, I received a referral on 29 March 2017 and went to the house. Peters came to the door when I knocked,” she told the court.
She said she spent “20 to 30
minutes” at the house.
“It (the Wendy house) looked as if there was enough space, beds for children, cupboards, kitchen and had the necessary items. The housing circumstances were satisfactory.”
ON TRIAL: Suspect Ameerodien Peters
Asked whether she checked Jeremiah’s body for any signs of abuse, the woman said: “No, he was lying and sleeping. I saw marks at the corners of Jeremiah’s mouth, but it didn’t look like physical abuse, it just looked like his mouth was dry.”
She said social workers were not allowed to inspect the bodies of possible victims, but should take them to a health centre.
She also interviewed Peters and Ruiters who “appeared to be happy”.
“I asked Ruiters what it was [around Jeremiah’s mouth] and she said eczema and that was a valid reason,” she testified.
She admitted that she did not do a follow-up visit.