BY REGINALD KANYANE
SOCIAL development department expressed a concern about the increasing number of street kids across Mahikeng. The department spokesperson, Petrus Siko said that there were many reasons that force children to go to the streets.
“There are mainly two categories which are pulling and push factors that result in children ending up in the streets. The push factor is influenced by circumstances at home like hunger and poverty. Neglect and abuse by parents also force the children to run away from home. There are cases where irresponsible parents force the children to go to the streets to look for food for the family.
“These parents use the children to win sympathy of the community in giving them food or money. Dysfunctional families also see the children running away. While other children cannot stand harsh discipline of the parents,” Siko said.
He added that on pulling factor, it was mostly that the children run away because of ill discipline. Siko further said these children left comfortable homes to live in the street because they do not want to be under parental guidance.
“Other children go to the streets because they envy the children living in the streets. However, others leave because of peer pressure. Some go to the streets just to ask for money from motorists especially at the robots,” Siko said.
He said the department was working with communities and families to help reintegration of these children to the families. Siko added that the community is urged to refrain from giving the street children materials especially money.
“The community is also asked to provide information to the department when they find children in the streets. We conduct advocacy programmes throughout the year at our local offices. Our officials from these offices teach communities on child protection measures.
“We also assist by taking these children to residential care centre areas and Drop-In centres. Drop-In centres are where the children bathe, get meals and assisted on homework. There are also outreach services by the Drop-In centres where they look for children in the streets and ask social workers to intervene with the families,” he said.
“There are measures in place to root out this challenge. There is an implementation of national strategy and guidelines for children living and working in the streets. There are levels of intervention like those at Drop-In centres. Early intervention is on children who beg but return home.
“Other children are placed at Drop-in centres by court orders. The department seeks to rehabilitate homes to be enabling environment for the children to return. On misuse of child support grants, social workers and Sassa can choose another beneficiary from the family who will get the grants instead of the one who is misusing it,” he said.
A street kid, 14, from Lichtenburg said he left his home because his mother was abusive.
“I am living in the street because my mother abuses me. She always comes home drunk. So there is no one to look after me.”
Another street kid said: “We are living in abject poverty at home, hence I decided to come and beg at the robots. Some of us ended up using drugs and abuse alcohol at the younger age because of pressure. We cannot continue to live dangerously like this.”
-TDN
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