A man who allegedly held a child chained up inside a cage, made a brief appearance in the Mdantsane Magistrates Court on Monday.
The 25-year-old Lerato Magwa's arrest comes after a video of the 12-year-old boy, crying for help, went viral on social media.
A dog was also caged next to the child at a house in Unit 8. The child's grandmother, who lives nearby, refused to open a case against Magwa.
She told police that the boy would run away to go live on the streets where he would only get into trouble.
The grandmother said that Magwa "did her a favour" as the boy would disappear for days and she would then not know where he is.
The child protection and sexual offense unit from SAPS opened up a case against Magwa and made an arrest.
He is being charged with assault and kidnapping and is expected to make another appearance where he will apply for bail.
