The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) prioritizes the safety and well-being of children across the province, including abandoned children and is guided by the Children’s Act no. 38 of 2005 in this regard. The department has taken custody of two children who had been found abandoned in the Metro South Region.
The first case was that of a young 2 year-old boy who was left abandoned at the beginning of this month at a shopping mall in Phillipi. The department took extensive steps to find the child’s parents which included engaging the community of Phillipi, and after a court order was granted, requested assistance through the media.
A 20 year-old woman eventually came forward as the child’s mother and was remanded in custody by the South African Police Services (SAPS).
It is important to stress that when it comes to child abandonment cases, there are reasons which may drive some parents to feel like they have no other option.
In this regard, the mother indicated she lives in desperate poverty and had in the recent past unsuccessfully sought assistance from a registered NGO rendering services to children.
The department will render counselling assistance to the young mother, including assisting her access the social security grants available for people in her circumstances. In addition, we will investigate the claim that she was not assisted by the NGO registered by the department to assist children at risk.
The department is also dealing with the case of a 17 month-old boy that was abandoned in Steenberg. The child was left on the doorstep of a local resident who alerted the police, who in turn contacted the department. A charge of child abandonment has been opened.
The child is currently in Temporary Safe Care, and the department is assisting the police in tracking the child’s parents. We are appealing to anybody with information to contact the DSD Hotline on 0800 220 250 or approach the Metro South Regional Office.
Media Enquiries:
Minister Albert Fritz
083 307 0192
Sihle Ngobese
Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, Minister of Social Development, Western Cape Government
Tel : (021) 483 9217
Cell : 083 280 9199
Email : Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za
