KwaZulu-Natal’s Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga, is taking decisive action against child abuse in Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) following alarming allegations at the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) CYCC.
In response to reports of children allegedly being assaulted by care workers, including incidents involving wet towels and belts, Ms Shinga, accompanied by senior officials including accounting officer Nelisiwe Vilakazi, visited the ABH CYCC on Tuesday.
She announced the immediate formation of an investigative team to uncover the full extent of the abuse. This team has a three-week deadline to complete their investigation and report their findings.
The implicated care workers have already been dismissed following disciplinary hearings conducted by the board of directors.
However, Ms Shinga stressed that dismissal is not enough. “Expelling these individuals from the centre is not sufficient,” she stated, emphasising the need for further punitive measures and legal accountability to ensure justice is served.
Ms Shinga reiterated the Department of Social Development’s commitment to protecting children’s rights. During her visit, she met with the centre’s management and board of directors to discuss their response to the allegations. While appreciating their swift action, she stressed the importance of a thorough and timely approach to handling such serious accusations.
“We were disappointed and shocked to learn that individuals entrusted with the care and protection of vulnerable children have abused their positions. These children come from already abusive backgrounds,“ Ms Shinga said.
Commending the board for initiating an investigation, Ms Shinga noted the necessity of a comprehensive probe by the department to determine the scope and duration of the abuse. She also called for criminal charges against the accused care workers and their reporting to the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP). Additionally, she advocated for their inclusion in the child protection register to mark them as violators of child protection rights.
Ms Shinga assured the public that stringent measures would be implemented to prevent such incidents from recurring and to ensure that all children in state care are safe and protected.
“We are mandated by the Children’s Act to ensure the protection of children. Anyone found to have violated these rights should face the full might of the law.”
