Court orders return of children to care facility
The KZN High Court (Pietermaritzburg) has granted a temporary order in favour of a youth care facility, ordering the provincial Department of Social Development to return 197 children who were removed from its premises.
The KZN Christian Social Services, the subject of an investigation into racism and physical abuse allegations, turned to the courts after department officials, accompanied by police, last week removed the children from the facility's Morester Children's Home in Ladysmith, Morester Children's Home in Newcastle and Home Meah in Newcastle, reports TimesLIVE.
KZN MEC Weziwe Thusi said in a statement that the children had been removed following allegations of physical, verbal and emotional abuse as well as racism, including the use of the offensive K-word against both African children and members of staff.
She ordered an investigation into the allegations of widespread violations of the Children's Act at the Morester Child and Youth Care Centre in Ladysmith after a preliminary investigation showed some staff members had a case to answer. On Wednesday, the faith-based organisation was granted a temporary interdict which ordered the department to return the children to the children's homes within 36 hours of the ruling.
It also ruled that the department should finalise an investigation into allegations of racism and abuse before 18 March, without traumatising the children.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
