Abandoned Phillipi Toddler: Department Makes Breakthrough | Western Cape Government

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Abandoned Phillipi Toddler: Department Makes Breakthrough

3 November 2014

The Western Cape Department of Social Development has made breakthroughs in the case of a young toddler who had been found tied up and abandoned in a bush near the Marcus Garvey informal settlement in Phillipi.

After adverts were placed by the Department calling on the public’s assistance in finding the child’s parents, information received allowed our social workers to track the child’s mother, and with the assistance the South African Police Services, we were able to affect an arrest.

The arrested woman has appeared this past week in the Athlone Magistrates Court, and is facing charges of Child Neglect. She is currently out on bail.

The department’s social workers have also interviewed the mother to ascertain what circumstances led to her opting to abandon her child, and to determine what the way forward will be when it comes the care and best interests of the young boy.

For the time being, he has been placed in an Interim Safety Placement, and is being looked after by one of the provincial department’s safety parents, while we track down his other relatives, who are reportedly in the Eastern Cape.

The Western Cape Government is committed to ensuring the safety and proper care of children. However, we cannot do this alone, we need the help of communities and parents who must play the leading role, and take responsibility for their children. I would like to thank the members of the public who responded to our advertisements and who assisted us in tracking down the young boy’s mother.

We cannot tolerate our children being abandoned, no matter how dire their parents’ circumstances are. The Western Cape Department of Social Development has programmes in place to assist mothers and fathers to care for their children and we therefore urge parents to visit any of our Regional Offices, or contact our call centre on 0800 220 250, instead of breaking the law.

Media Enquiries: 

Minister Albert Fritz
083 307 0192

Sihle Ngobese
Spokesperson for Albert Fritz
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 083 280 9199
E-mail : sihle.ngobese@westerncape.gov.za