A NEARLY four-year-old child living in the care of a local couple remains without legal documentation almost two years after concerns about her well-being were first raised, prompting the Department of Social Development to investigate the matter.

To protect the identity of the minor, the names of all adults involved are being withheld.

The situation arose in October 2023 during a feeding outreach at a park in Queensburgh. A local pastor and his wife encountered a couple with three young children. At first, there appeared to be little cause for concern.

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The mother had reportedly recently regained custody of the children and expressed relief and gratitude.
However, at a subsequent outreach event, only the father returned — accompanied by two of the children, including an 18-month-old girl who appeared severely underweight and was dressed in clothing intended for a newborn.

“The child appeared ravenous when given food. After enquiring with the father, we found out that she had been surviving primarily on grape-flavoured fizzy drinks because they could not afford formula or appropriate nutrition,” said the pastor.

Another organisation which deals with misplaced children was assisting at the outreach. They intervened and asked the pastor and his wife to temporarily care for the toddler while social services were expected to step in.

“We agreed because we did not want her to go into the system. We thought it would be a short-term arrangement but it turned out to be the total opposite,” said the pastor’s wife.

Delays and shifting responsibility

In January 2024, a meeting was held with Child Welfare Durban and District. A social worker was assigned to the case, and assurances were reportedly given that the necessary legal processes would begin.

But by the end of 2024, no documentation had been secured for the child.

“All we want is assistance with obtaining birth records of the child and paperwork to say we are her foster parents or legal guardian. We know that there may be a legal process involved in a case like this but why the child welfare won’t help, is beyond us,” said the pastor.

“We have been told to ask the mother to help. We have asked her but she is not interested. So this child has no Road to Health card so she can’t be enrolled in a creche or school. We don’t know what her real name is but we have named her. We celebrate her birthday going on what her father told us but we don’t know for sure if that’s her actual birthday. Legally, she does not exist,” said the pastor’s wife.

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In February 2025, the couple travelled to Bothaville — near where the child was believed to have been born — in an attempt to obtain official birth records. He and his wife reportedly spent nearly R10 000 on travel and accommodation while waiting for assistance over the course of a week.

Attempts to approach a hospital for proof of birth were unsuccessful due to a lack of legal guardianship documentation.

Officials in Wentworth allegedly indicated that the matter would need to be handled in Bothaville, while Bothaville did not process the request.

“Nobody is able to help us. How can that be when we have a department with staff responsible for cases like this? All we want is a future for this child. We don’t want any childcare grant or anything. We just want her to get the proper documentation,” said the pastor.

Department responds
The Department of Social Development has confirmed it is looking into the matter.

“The department’s priority is to ensure that every child is safe and properly cared for,” said spokesperson Thuba Vilane.

He added that the case will be assessed to determine the appropriate legal and welfare steps required.

Officials reiterated that the protection and well-being of vulnerable children remain central to their mandate.

Responsibility, according to those involved, shifts between offices, with no resolution while the child remains in administrative limbo — growing older without legal identity, waiting for a system meant to protect her, to formally recognise her existence.

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