Three-year-old forced to smoke dagga placed in safe care

A three-year-old toddler allegedly forced to smoke dagga by an older brother has been placed in safe care, the Western Cape social development department said on Thursday.

"The department of social development has taken action by temporarily placing the three-year-old girl and her 13-year-old sister in safe care with family friends," social development MEC Albert Fritz said in a statement.

The department said her age was mistakenly listed as four years old on Wednesday.

"She is actually three years old. The older brother has been confirmed to be 18 years old."

The toddler was found on Wednesday after the department was made aware of a teenager who had posted pictures on social media of him allegedly coercing his younger sister to smoke marijuana.

"Our social workers from the metro south regional office were immediately activated and launched an investigation to try to track the whereabouts of the toddler, made difficult given the lack of information and an address."

He said social workers found the girl's location on Wednesday and approached the child's mother to intervene.

The police have been asked to assist in the situation because of the teenager's alleged gang connections, Fritz said.

The department was probing the matter as well as working with police to track down the teenager.