Removal of children of beggars (Johannesburg Child Welfare)

Press Release - 25 August 2010
The advent of the removal of children begging in the streets in Tshwane, some accompanying adults has the public raging with dissent.  Jo’burg Child Welfare (JCW) has the following comments on this issue:

“We note that such children are exposed to a great many hazards and that there is an urgent need for intervention to improve their circumstances. In addition there is evidence that some of the adults concerned are not the parents of the children who are with them, but have “rented” them for use in begging. This is of course a highly dangerous practice that must be ended”, says the organisation’s Assistant Director Carol Bews. At the same time it is our impression that many of the adults in question are the parents of the children who are with them, and their begging is a means of survival in extremely adverse circumstances.

Sudden, forced removal of children from those caring for them is highly traumatising and can cause severe and lasting emotional problems. This is something that should happen only when there is substantial immediate danger to a child - danger which outweighs that involved in traumatic removal. Marihet Infantino, JCW’s manager for the Child and Family unit says; “Normally speaking, separation of a child from his or her parent or primary caregiver should happen only after a full investigation and with thorough preparation of all concerned.”

We would recommend that instead of this kind of draconian action by the authorities, what is required is to increase the options for poor people. “We need strong outreach and development programmes through which the adults involved can be offered positive ways of making a living, instead of being separated from their children,” adds Bews. Such programmes require funding from provincial and local government as well as private sources.  The present chronic underfunding of welfare organisations by the Gauteng government is undermining their ability to respond to this and many other social problems.

Our own organisation’s Thembalethu project for girls and young women on the street has to date this year received no state funding. This is a programme which, through skills training and income-generating activities, helps prevent young mothers from having to resort to begging in the first place. “Government must strengthen the social welfare service net in order to promote the wellbeing of children and families in our province,” appeals Bews.

Issue By: Jo’burg Child Welfare

Contact:
·        Carol Bews  tel: 011 298 8500
·        Marihet Infantino 011 298 8511

All Media Enquiries: Busi Ziqubu - 011 298 8506, email: funds [at] jhbchildwelfare [dot] org [dot] za.

For more information, click here <http://www.jhbchildwelfare.org.za> .