Newcastle’s hidden shame: The alarming rise in child neglect and abandonment

For generations, Newcastle has been celebrated as a close-knit, family-centric town. Yet, recent revelations cast a shadow over this cherished image, raising the question: Is Newcastle truly a family-focused community, or has the essence of familial care diminished, leaving its youngest members to suffer the consequences?

This comes to light as recent reports highlight a distressing increase in child neglect across Newcastle.

This troubling trend encompasses not just cases of child neglect, but also instances of child abandonment and child abuse, spanning affluent areas like Aviary Hill to lower-income neighbourhoods such as Ncandu Park. With this in mind, the Child Welfare SA Newcastle Office stated that is grappling with this unsettling rise, striving to combat a growing crisis.

Farieda Mia, head of Child Welfare SA Newcastle, shared that while child neglect has always been a concern, there has been a marked increase in cases affecting local children. She noted, “This is an issue which happens across the social strata in Newcastle, with children facing neglect in various aspects, such as no parental attention, not getting adequate food, lack of proper accommodation, as well as a lack of parental supervision such as leaving young children unattended at home, sending their children to school without lunch, and not worried about school attendance.”

While noting the unemployment rate played a significant role in the rise of child neglect cases, Mia pointed out that substance abuse posed a major role in this growing crime, with certain families pursuing avenues to fuel their habits over feeding and caring for their children.

She explained that neglect had reached a level that certain parents would even send their children to taverns in town to purchase alcohol.

“You just have to drive through Newcastle to see the number of children of all races walking the streets, some of them begging for money or food. Some parents will also use their children to go out begging for food, as they know that people won’t turn down a child. This is a crime, as it is illegal for children to beg, as it exposes them to immense danger,” Mia said, reflecting on the grim reality faced by these vulnerable youngsters.

Mia further emphasised that Child Welfare Newcastle prioritised addressing child neglect due to its severe impact on the mental and physical health of children. The organisation actively seeks appropriate shelters for children whose well-being is jeopardised by neglect.

Moreover, Mia noted that due to a shortage of shelter facilities in Newcastle, Child Welfare had developed initiatives that collaborate with local families to address child neglect. These efforts include assessing the extent and nature of neglect and taking necessary legal actions to prevent its recurrence.“People tend to get scared if they have to face children’s court, so they usually comply when we intervene.”

The rise in child abandonment is another grave concern. Mia revealed, “There is a baby abandoned every second month. Our office alone has handled four abandoned babies in just a year and a half so far,” underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Newcastillian News reported on two incidents where babies were abandoned, their lives tragically cut short due to their parents’ actions. The first incident took place in August 2024, when a couple had discarded their baby in the river running from Amcor Dam. The second incident took place on 16 September 2024, when emergency personnel and police found a dead baby at a municipal dustbin skip.

As newborn babies and infants are being discarded in Newcastle, Child Welfare Newcastle stated that it is taking urgent steps to avert this problem from escalating even further. While working closely with the Department of Social Development and law enforcement, Mia explained that the Child Welfare was now calling on local community members to step forward and act as temporary safe houses for abandoned babies.

“Morester Children’s Home has closed down; while Home Meah and St Anthony’s Child and Youth Care Facility are full. We need families who can act as temporary caregivers until we can safely place the babies. It can be overnight, for a weekend, but the maximum stay is 90 days,” she explained.

However, to be able to assist, Mia explained people needed to be screened by the Child Welfare Offices and registered. The screening process involves Child Welfare looking at a family’s living conditions, their lifestyle, ensuring they are not registered sex offenders and are not linked to substance abuse.

As Child Welfare faces the increase of child neglect within the community, while trying to address the concerning trend of child abandonment, child abuse remains a constant problem.

“While there has been no real spike in child abuse, we do have cases on a regular basis. This ranges from physical abuse, inappropriate discipline, sexual abuse, and this is across the board. With child abuse, we cannot say it is one specific area or group of people. This is from professionals to laymen in our community,” emphasised Mia.

Such is the nature of child abuse in Newcastle, Mia said a number of children have sought their help, going through their schools or trusted adults to help them escape their abusive lifestyles.

Looking at these three concerning issues within Newcastle, Mia said the biggest challenge was that Newcastle’s affluent and more financially stable families were better at hiding abuse, neglect and abandonment. “These are often well-known people and the neighbours often don’t want to get involved because of the person’s social standing, unlike the poorer members of the community who open up more about the problem. I call it Newcastle’s hidden shame,” noted Mia.

With Child Welfare Newcastle looking at addressing these major issues, it is important to note that the following legislation is in place to protect children:

In South Africa, child neglect is addressed by various laws designed to protect children from harm and ensure their well-being. The laws set out responsibilities for parents, guardians, and society in general, and they define child neglect as a form of child abuse. Key legislation includes the Children’s Act, the Constitution, and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act.

Children’s Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005)

The Children’s Act is the primary legislation that governs child protection in South Africa. It defines child neglect and outlines the responsibilities of parents, guardians, and caregivers to provide for the physical, emotional, and educational needs of children. Key sections relevant to child neglect include:

• Section 1: Defines child neglect as the failure, by a parent or caregiver, to provide for the child’s basic physical, emotional, intellectual, or social needs.
• Section 150: States that a child is in need of care and protection if they are abandoned, neglected, or experiencing maltreatment or abuse.
• Section 305: Makes it an offence for any person who has parental responsibilities to neglect a child, whether intentionally or through gross negligence.

Child neglect can result in intervention by social services, and in severe cases, it can lead to criminal prosecution.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996

The Constitution is the supreme law of the country and provides for the rights of children under Section 28, which explicitly protects children from neglect. It states that:

• Every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse, or degradation.
• The best interests of the child are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.

This constitutional protection ensures that child neglect is taken seriously, and authorities must always consider the child’s best interests.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007

While primarily focused on sexual offences, this Act also contains provisions that protect children from neglect and abuse in broader contexts. It makes it an offence to neglect children in situations where they are left vulnerable to sexual exploitation or harm due to the caregiver’s neglect.

Child Justice Act, 2008

The Child Justice Act deals with children in conflict with the law but also indirectly addresses issues of child neglect by recognizing that children who commit crimes are often victims of neglect or abuse. It provides alternative measures such as diversion programs aimed at addressing the root causes, which may include neglect.

Social Assistance Act, 2004

This Act establishes the framework for providing social assistance, including child support grants. If a parent or caregiver fails to use this assistance to meet the basic needs of the child, it could be considered neglect under the Children’s Act.

Domestic Violence Act, 1998

The Domestic Violence Act protects children from abuse within the household. Neglect by a parent or caregiver can be considered a form of domestic violence, especially if the child is deprived of necessities like food, shelter, or medical care. The Act allows for protective measures such as protection orders against the neglecting party.

Penalties for Child Neglect

• Parents or guardians found guilty of child neglect can face criminal charges, fines, or imprisonment under the Children’s Act or related statutes.
• In extreme cases of neglect that lead to serious harm or death, charges could escalate to more severe offences, such as culpable homicide or murder.

It should be further highlighted that anyone who becomes aware of child neglect is required to report it to a social worker, the police, or a child protection organisation under the Children’s Act. Failure to report suspected neglect can also result in legal consequences for professionals such as teachers, doctors, or social worker.

Therefore, if anyone wants to assist in combating these issues, Child Welfare SA Newcastle offices can be contacted on 034 412 6228.

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