Cape Times E-dition

SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS ROCK LOCAL KIDS’ HOME

OKUHLE HLATI okhule.hlati@inl.co.za

A HEATED legal battle is brewing between the Sive Nati Licensed Home for children with disabilities and the provincial Departments of Health and Social Department (DSD), after 28 children were removed, amid allegations of sexual abuse and negligence.

The Cape Times has reliably learnt that the departments approached the Children’s Court, at the Blue Down Magistrate’s Court, and were granted an urgent interdict to remove children from the Blackheath home, following the accusations.

However, the black-owned NGO, which provides 24-hour care to children who are profoundly challenged mentally and physically, claims the DSD has been targeting it for years and is racist.

According to Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever, the departments received a report regarding a child protection matter at the facility and, when they visited on July 17, they were denied access.

He said they returned on July 23, when they were granted entry and the assessments took place.

“In a joint effort, officials from both departments, as well as SAPS, visited the institution to conduct a safety and risk assessment, but were unfortunately denied access.

“All residents have special needs, and require specialised services and assessments when being removed.

“Based on the initial assessment, the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court was approached, in relation to emergency removals of children. On July 23, 28 children were removed and placed in alternative, safe accommodation, with three being placed in the care of their parents,” he said.

Most of the residents had been placed at Sive Nati Licensed Home, through private arrangements between the facility and families, said van der Heever.

“Therefore, parents were asked for consent for social workers to remove their children from the institution. Consultations with parents are ongoing. Our local health and social workers were concerned about the care offered to the children, and prioritised their safety by placing them in alternative and safe environments,” he said.

Van der Heever said they also informed the board about the situation through a formal letter.

While the facility is privately-owned, on the DSD website it states that the home is funded by the department.

By late yesterday, the DSD removed the home from its website.

The DSD’s Esther Lewis said they provided partial funding to the facility, which was stopped last year.

“The Department of Health continued funding, while it sought a safe, alternate placement solution for the residents. This funding was terminated on July 31,” said Lewis.

Asked what the child protection matter at the facility related to, Lewis said the DSD “cannot divulge the details of the report or assessment. The details have been presented to the court.”

Sive Nati Licensed Home board chairperson Velile Yayi refuted the claims, saying: “I was only informed about the allegations last week Friday, when I arrived at the facility for a meeting. There were people standing outside and I noticed some familiar faces from the Department of Health.”

“I was later informed that some were actually DSD officials and they came with some sort of formal or informal letter.

“They purported (to have) what seemed to be a court order for removal of the children because of serious allegations of sexual misconduct.

“This came as a shock to me because

we regularly meet with officials from these departments and they never raised this.

“A few days earlier, I had received a call about people forcing their way inside the home,” said Yayi.

He said as officials of the home, they went to the Children's Court and it was confirmed there was no court order, but a temporary removal for the departments to seek a permanent removal.

“We are not disputing that two children were sexually abused, but are saying the allegations came after they came back from their parents' homes after holidays.

“Also, no case has been lodged with police and the doctor's check-up report was never shared with us when we requested it.

“The departments are just undermining black people and are racist. The wild allegations are mere allegations. They have dented our image and we have approached our lawyers, who wrote to them to bring back the children.

“We will approach the court to exonerate us and ask them why they pulled their funds last year,” said Yayi.

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2021-08-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-03T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/281560883838516

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