Food stolen from children’s mouths
Their loot included electronic equipment and other items used by staff and volunteers to operate the organisation's support line for children in crisis.
Almost R200 000 worth of equipment, food and toys were stolen from the Munsieville Children’s Embassy during the early hours of Monday 20 October.
The unknown number of burglars got past robust security systems and stole vital electronic equipment that is used to support some of Mogale City’s most vulnerable children.
Their loot included computers, cellphones and other items used by staff and volunteers of Thoughtful Path Munsieville to operate the organisation’s 24-hour emergency support line for children in crisis, and to train community members to support children throughout the Munsieville township and squatter camp.
Bulk quantities of food due to be distributed later in the week also was stolen.
The executive director of Project HOPE United Kingdom, Paul Brooks have been visiting the project from London this week and expressed his disappointment about the incident.
“Since 2010, hundreds of people from Munsieville have stepped up to the challenges faced by children living in poverty in the township; many of them giving everything they can to support their most vulnerable young neighbours even though they struggle to make ends meet themselves.”
He says the burglars have broken into a place known throughout the community as belonging to the children of Munsieville.
“They in effect have taken the food from the mouths of those unable to protect themselves.”
Betty Nkoana, who has been the operations director of The Thoughtful Path since 2010 is appealing to anyone in the community who has any information pertaining to the burglary to contact the police or the charity’s Botshabelo Child Crisis line on 0800 876 876.
“Bad people get away with things like this when good people stay silent,” she says.
“It is important that the people of Munsieville expose those in their midst who do such terrible things. If they are not stopped, they will get the message that it is fine to steal and take from desperate children.”
More about the Thoughtful Path Munsieville:
It is an extensive community-led initiative working at multiple levels to bring about long-term, sustainable improvements to the health, education and lives of disadvantaged children.
The Children’s Embassy opened in 2011 and the Botshabelo Child Crisis Line was launched in December 2013. The organisation has given professional training in early childhood development to about 50 local crèche operators in the area.
