Western Cape Department of Social Development dealing with two abonnement cases

Oscar Thomas
13 March 2015

The Western Cape Department of Social Development has taken custody of two children who had been found abandoned in Phillipi and Steenberg.

A 2-year-old boy was left at a shopping mall in Phillipi and criminal charges against the mother has been dropped.

Ministerial Spokesperson Sihle Ngobese said it is important to stress that when it comes to child abandonment cases.

Ngobese said there are reasons that may drive some parents to feel like they have no other option.

Ngobese said the department will render counselling assistance to the young mother including assisting her access to the social grant available for people in her circumstances.

"In addition we will investigate the claim" Ngobese added.

Meanwhile in another case the department is handling is that of a 17-month-old baby who was left at a door step of a strange. The mother of the child allegedly left the baby boy on the floor of a house she went in asking for water.

When the owner of the house went to fetch her water she was gone and the baby left at the doorstep wrapped with a towel and a clinic card next to him.

Ministerial Spokesperson Sihle Ngobese said the child has been taken into temporary safety care and a charge of child abandonment has been opened with the police. The department will be assisting the police in tracking the child’s parents.

“We are appealing to anyone with information to contact the departments hot line on 0800 220 250 or approach our metro south regional offices” Ngobese added.