Helderberg
Year 16 • Tuesday 5 June 2012 | Tel. 021 853 0211
Left alone NICOLE MCCAIN Three times a week, the Lwandle police are forced to deal with children who’ve been left without supervision by their parents – and the problem is rife throughout the Helderberg. Melany Kühn, spokesperson for Social Development MEC Albert Fritz, says 25 cases of neglect of this sort were reported in the Helderberg last year. Seventeen cases were in Macassar alone, according to Kühn. Olivia Adams, a social worker for Child Welfare in Macassar, says three cases came through this office in the last year. Kühn says not all cases are reported through Child Welfare; they may come from other NGOs. Constable Mthokozisi Gama, spokesperson for the Lwandle police, says numerous cases have been reported to the police over the last few months. The children are usually under the age of six, and are often found wandering the road or between homes. Léanne Keet of Masikhule Childcare says there aren’t enough daycare facilities in Lwandle for the number of children who need to be looked after,
especially those whose parents work. “The need exceeds the facility numbers,” says Keet. It’s a general problem that can be seen in Sir Lowry’s Pass and Macassar too, she says. Esté de Jager, a social worker for Child Welfare in Sir Lowry’s Pass, says there aren’t too many cases of outright child abandonment – defined legally as leaving a child for more than three months. The main issue is parents who leave their children unattended, and it’s usually due to ignorance, she says. Gama says many cases come to the attention of the police when parents are under the influence, or when they’ve left their children in the “care” of other people. Kühn agrees, saying that children are often neglected because their parents are abusing drugs and alcohol, and due to a lack of parenting skills and support. Other factors include financial and emotional instability. Gama says the high number of these cases is a drain on police resources. He explains that, once the child has been taken to the police station, officers will open an investigation to find the parents. Once the parents have been found, and confirmed as family of
Nuwe baadjie
the child, the officers will release the child to them. If the officers are unable to find the parents, they contact Social Welfare and find a safe house for the child to stay in. Adams says this puts a lot of pressure on the social workers. They first attempt to contact the child’s family; if that fails, they have to find a foster parent or place of safety where the child can spend the night. “And everything has to be done that day, before you go home,” she says. Kühn echoes this. “Huge effort goes into finding loving homes for abandoned children,” she says, “including but not limited to man hours, money, equipment, and collaboration with other government departments.” Anyone who finds a missing child should contact the police immediately on 0 10111, or report the matter to their nearest police station. Child abuse can be reported to Childline on 0 0800 055 555.
Whatdoyousay?
32513
SMS
usat
SMSescostR1
Constable Mthokozisi Gama, spokesperson for the Lwandle police, says parents should do the following when a child goes missing: first, immediately report the child as missing at your nearest police station. There is no waiting period with regards to missing persons. Supply the police with a recent photo and full description of the child. Become involved with the investigation by asking all friends and family to help search and distribute flyers. Stay in contact with the police officers investigating, and report any developments to them.
Morné Mitchell (links) en Davie Classen van die Helderberg-munisipaliteit se parkeraad is gister (Maandag) besig om houtheinings in die Somerset-Wes-middedorp te verf. Dié werk is deel van die Stad Kaapstad se opgradering van verkeerseilande in Hoofweg, Somerset-Wes. Die heinings sal, waar nodig, herstel word, en in die kleure van die Stad Kaapstad geverf word. Waterbesparende plante sal ook as deel van die opgraderingsprojek geplant word. “Hierdie is ’n afskopprojek om die middedorp meer kleurvol te maak,” sê Somerset-Wes-parkeraad se bestuurder, John Jarvis. Kommentaar en voorstelle van die gemeenskap kan aan john.jarvis@capetown.gov.za gerig word. Foto: Nicole Mccain