The Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office has intervened to assist three vulnerable children of Logoba whose plight sparked public outrage after images showing them wearing dirty, torn clothes and appearing unwashed circulated on social media.
The intervention follows a visit by Kuphumula Kwemaswati Charity Organisation, which found the children living with their unemployed father after they were allegedly abandoned by their mother, who is reported to be living in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The charity organisation’s Director, Mzwandile Dlamini, said the children had already received immediate relief in the form of food and clothing donated through the DPM’s Office, while the Department of Social Welfare had taken over the case for further assessment.
“The children’s welfare is our priority. Social Welfare is assessing the family’s situation to determine the most appropriate intervention, while efforts are also underway to secure proper accommodation and identify suitable relatives who can provide the children with a safer living environment,” Dlamini said.
He said the children’s father had apologised after members of the public questioned why the children had been left in such a neglected condition.
Logoba Community Police officer Oscar Bhembe said the family’s living conditions were worrying.
The children’s father is said to be unemployed, surviving on occasional piece jobs and spending much of his time drinking alcohol.
Bhembe said the family had three boys aged six, eight and 10.
He said the two older children were attending a nearby primary school, while the youngest was not enrolled.
According to the father, the youngest child had not yet started school.
However, Bhembe said he became concerned after speaking to the eldest child, who reportedly struggled to write his own name or count from one.
“This raised concerns about whether the children are regularly attending school. I will visit the school together with the Kwaluseni bucopho to establish whether they are enrolled and attending classes,” he said.
