The Port Elizabeth father, who threw his one-year-old daughter off the roof of a shack, was released on warning on Monday.
The 38-year-old, Mthobeki Katali, appeared before the New Brighton Magistrates Court where his legal Aid attorney petitioned the court to release him on warning instead of bail due to his financial circumstances.
The incident happened during an operation, by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, to demolish illegal structures in Joe Slovo two weeks ago.
Katali swung the baby off his shack as police tried to coax him off the structure.
The toddler was caught by a metro police officer and has since been placed under the care of a social worker.
Speaking to the media after being released, Katali, said he was not trying to intentionally harm his daughter.
Katali said he was trying to throw the baby to her mother after he noticed that the shack's zinc sheets were going to collapse.
His wife, Vuyokazi, also told the media that she was relieved that her husband was released adding that she knew that he did not want to intentionally want harm their daughter.
Meanwhile, a group of Joe Slovo residents rallied behind Katali outside court.
They issued a petition, with 300 signatures, to the court to release him out on warning
Joe Slovo community leader, Lizzie Jantjies, said the community was 100 % behind Katali.
Jantjie also said Katali was a loving family man who had never abused any of his four children.
"First of all, he never abused the child. I want the media to correct the point where they say utata abused the child. This is a loving man, he loves his family with all his heart and as mothers, we would never support something if it is not right," she said.
The New Brighton Court changed the attempted the attempted murder charge against Katali to child abuse last week.
The case was postponed to the 29th of May.
Mthobeki Katali outside New Brighton Court
