'STATE FAILED MISSING BOY' - Activists slam youth care facility after 11-year-old 'escapes'

BOY ‘ESCAPES’ CARE CENTRE

Guardian and activists say State failed missing 11-year-old boy

The guardian of an 11-year-old boy who absconded from a Youth Care Facility and walked from Khayelitsha to Delft has questioned the facility’s register and roll-call  process, citing that the child could have been harmed or faced danger.

​Whistleblowers have since called on MEC for Social Development (DSD) Jaco Londt to take responsibility for his department after the child ran away last week.

​The guardian said the child, who is his nephew and the son of his drug-addicted sister, remains “missing” after being sighted in Delft after allegedly visiting his father, who is also an apparent gang member.

​The boy, who cannot be identified, and who has been experimenting with drugs such as dagga, was admitted to the facility, The Homestead Projects for Children - Child and Youth Care Centre (CYCC) in Khayelitsha, nearly two weeks ago.

​He ran away just days after being booked into the centre, following an order from the court.

​The DSD has since admitted that the child left the facility, but said it could not discuss the matter, detailing that the facility was not a secure centre.

​In a statement to the Daily Voice’s sister newspaper, The Cape Argus, the DSD said: “The Department can confirm that a child absconded from the facility, and the matter was reported to DSD.

​“We cannot comment on any further details related to this case.

​“Homestead is a residential community-based, registered child and youth care centre, managed by an NGO.

​“It caters to children placed in terms of the Children’s Act. (It is not a secure care centre, which caters to children placed via the Child Justice Act.)

​“Verification of residents are done against a register, twice daily.’

Meanwhile, the guardian said he was not contacted by the centre when the child vanished and told of his struggle to provide him with a stable home environment.

​He has been caring for his nefie since his grandparents died a few years ago and explained that his sister remains addicted to drugs

​He said the child had started bunking school, having to repeat a grade and that he learnt that he was smoking dagga.

​The uncle said: “I called the centre and they confirmed that he was not there, because it was people in the community who informed me that he was seen in the area and was apparently at his father’s home at 7am.

​“My question is if he came at 7am, when did they check the register and why did no one call me?

​“The distance between Khayelitsha and Delft is very far. What if something had to happen to him?

“I started raising him in my twenties, I did what I could to give him a life, an education. What more can I do?”

​Activist and whistleblower, Zona Morton questioned why protocol was not followed and Londt must start taking responsibility for his various Departments in Social Development

“Who failed this 11-year-old child who was in urgent need of protection? Why are there policies at CYCC’s that are not enforced or overseen by the appointed HOD?

“I do not see any urgency in locating a vulnerable 11-year-old who 'escaped' from a facility that was instructed by a Magistrate to ensure his safety.”