Another six children were removed from an unregistered Soweto orphanage this weekend after 27 were taken last week, the Gauteng social development department said on Monday.
”On Sunday night we were tipped [off] that there were children in the house … we found six children, three boys and three girls,” departmental spokesperson Sam Muofhe said.
The department and police raided the house in Mofolo last Tuesday after receiving information that it was operating as an illegal orphanage, housing about 70 children.
The couple running the home were taken in for questioning by police over possible contraventions of the Children’s Act.
However, charges were later withdrawn, Captain Mbazima Shiburi said on Monday.
”It is a social welfare matter, not a police matter,” he said.
During the raid, 13 children were removed, while the rest ran away.
A further 14 children were rescued after a tip-off from the public on Wednesday.
Gauteng’s social development minister, Bob Mabaso, and officials went to the house at about 8pm on Sunday. They found the couple had moved the six children — aged between seven and 13 — to a nearby house.
”We removed them to a place of safety,” Muofhe said.
He said the couple is not cooperating with the department.
”They seem to be able to use a number of houses around Mofolo. They don’t want to let go of these children because they get funding from all sorts of sources,” he said.
”The feeling is if I have house and accommodate children I can get donations … It’s a job-creation thing.”
The children, however, are not benefiting from social grants and other assistance provided by the government, he said.
The couple reportedly operated a five-roomed orphanage with three outside rooms, which housed abused and abandoned children aged between one and 18.
Muofhe said the department will continue to monitor the couple.
”Staff members and police are on standby. At any time when we hear children are in any of their houses, we will spring to action so we can rescue those children.”
Muofhe also called on local and foreign organisations not to donate money or goods to homes that are not registered with the department.
”They are doing a disservice to the children,” he said.
The Mofolo home reportedly received donations from various local companies and foreign organisations.
”We need to audit these shelters and orphanages to make sure they have proper programmes and will ultimately reunite the children with society and their relatives,” he said. — Sapa