MEC provides feedback on Don Mattera CYCC allegations

The South African Human Rights Commision has started an investigation into recent allegations made against Don Mattera Child and Youth Care Centre.

Allegations the SAHRC are investigating include rape, sodomy, underage sex and children escaping from the centre.

The allegations reported on by the NEWS were made by a staff member, a former resident and the Democratic Alliance.

Also read: Edenvale SAPS to investigate Don Mattera Child and Youth Care Centre

Gauteng MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza announced the commission’s investigation at a meeting, which was held with members of the media at the Don Mattera Centre on March 19.

In addition, she shared the department’s preliminary findings of its investigation into the centre.

Mayathula-Khoza said although the SAHRC’s investigation was ongoing, the commission had not made any “adverse findings”.

“The SAHRC has found the institution to be suitable for the purpose it serves,” Mayathula-Khoza said.

Also read: Former resident speaks out against Don Mattera Centre

Mayathula-Khoza said as soon as the department had been made aware of the allegations, she visited the CYCC on March 7.

“The matters were not as exaggerated as the DA would like the nation to believe. The DA is spreading malicious rumours,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

Mayathula-Khoza confirmed, however, that children had absconded, children had engaged in consensual sex and that a fire was lit in the boy’s dormitory.

She said all of the incidents occurred last year during the NEHAWU (National Health Education and Allied Workers’ Union) strike.

“The strike gave the children an opportunity to carry out their plans,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

Also read: ‘Allegations against Don Mattera centre false and ill-motivated’ – Department of Social Development

In April last year, one boy and five girls absconded from the centre.

“The boy returned soon after absconding and led us to the girls in Alexandra,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

Mpho Zulu, the head of the institution, said the children stole a key and escaped through an emergency exit.

Zulu said the key was stolen after a staff member asked a child to collect something from a storeroom.

“Because it was a key for an emergency exit, we did not notice that it had been taken,” said Zulu.

Zulu explained that since the time the key was stolen, children are no longer asked to collect items on behalf of staff members.

Because the key to the emergency exit was never found, the lock on the door has been changed.

Mayathula-Khoza said the six children have all been accounted for.

“Some of them have been relocated to other CYCCs while others have been reunited with their families.”

She said when the children absconded, the police were notified.

“The department is also aware of a group of children who had consensual sex at the centre.

“When the head of the institute interviewed the children, they confirmed that it had been consensual and not rape,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

Mayathula-Khoza said some of the children admitted that they had only kissed each other.

During the strike, a section of the boys’ dormitory was also set alight.

The dormitory was set alight by a resident of the centre.

As a result of the fire, a portion of the centre’s buildings and electrical system was damaged.

Because of the damage caused by the fire, 18 boys now sleep in the centre’s gymnasium.

“We have begun the process of obtaining funds to repair the damaged rooms,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

The department estimates that it would cost more than R2-million to repair the building.

The director of institutions for the department, Vivian Bajomo, said an infrastructure unit is looking into the cost of the repairs.

Once acquired, the funds will be used to repair the damage caused by the fire.

“The allegations of rape and sodomy will be investigated,” said Mayathula-Khoza.

“I spoke to a few of the children at the centre when I last visited and they were surprised to hear about the allegations of sodomy and rape.”

Once the investigation has been completed and the report has been compiled Mayathula-Khoza will share the findings with the media.

Mayathula-Khoza also said that to prevent further incidents at the centre, the department will improve security at Don Mattera.

Editing and packaging: Marietta Lombard and Charmaine Slater.