Update: Department removes 150 children from Môrester in Ladysmith
One child was evidently so traumatised by the ordeal of being removed from the children's home that she had an epileptic attack due to the stress
The Department of Social Development (DSD) removed 150 children from Môrester Children’s Home in Ladysmith yesterday (February 15).
Speaking to Lizette van Niekerk, the director at the home, she says the department told them they were removing the children due to allegations of abuse.
Lizette adds that what is being done is very unfair to the children, as some of them are learners at school and they don’t even know where they are going. There are children in Grade 10 and 11, and even a child who has been enrolled in a college to help him obtain his Grade 12 certificate.
Lizette says, “This is a very sad day, as this goes totally against the Children’s Act section 203. There is a process to be followed and we have 90 days in which we can respond.”
She also says the children did not want to go, and actually refused to go. One child was evidently so traumatised by the ordeal of being removed from the children’s home that she had an epileptic attack due to the stress.
Lizette is concerned by the fact that she was not even given a list by the DSD of where the children are going. This means that if the families of the children call her at Môrester, she cannot account for where the children are.
Update story: Update: #Môrester150 moved to children’s homes all over KZN
Also read: JUST IN: Help save the children of Môrester in Newcastle
She ended off by saying that monitoring is done every quarter and their monitoring reports were clear every single time. The home was even praised for the work it has been doing.
The DSD removed an undisclosed number of children from Home Meah in Newcastle on Friday. They also attempted to remove children from Môrester in Newcastle, but left and said they would return today (February 16).
Representatives from Môrester in Newcastle have called on the community to help save the children, and have urged residents to be at the home to help.
Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
