The plight of the children from the Môrester Children’s Home has touched the hearts of scores of people.
When the Department of Social Development was ordered to return the children to Môrester Children’s Home in Newcastle and Ladysmith, as well as Home Meah, community members were overjoyed.
However, KwaZulu-Natal Christian Social Services (KZN CSS) brought another urgent application to the high court in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, February 22. This comes after it became clear the Department of Social Development (DSD) was intentionally ignoring the court order to return the children within 36 hours.
Also read: Department of Social Development removes children from
Môrester Children’s Home
The DSD was aggressively pursuing their plans to transfer the children to new schools and arranging for parents to visit the children in their new homes over the weekend.
Reverend Gerhard Botha, CEO of KZN Christian Social Services, said they were very worried the situation was turning into a second Esidimeni and the organisation and community were on standby to collect the children in their own vehicles.
The urgent application for contempt of court was filed by the CSS on Friday. Due to logistical problems at the courthouse, the proceedings began this morning, February 25, at 9am.
“Pressure from the second application, the media attention and community outcry worked. Around 4pm, we were informed that high-level instructions were given to DSD staff to return the children immediately” says Botha.
Also read: The Môrester are coming home
All the children arrived back at Môrester Ladysmith, Môrester Newcastle and Home Meah late on Friday and Saturday, except for two children from the Ladysmith home who were hospitalised due to stress-induced epilepsy.
“They are monitored closely but doing well under the circumstances,” says Botha
Botha also stated the children are being examined medically and receiving trauma counselling after their ordeal.
Over the weekend there were celebrations and jubilation at the homes and the staff and community welcomed the children back with banners, gifts and home cooked meals.
“We stand in awe at the strength of the community that kept on fighting for the children and we are so thankful for their generosity,” says Botha.
In the meantime, the CSS will still take the DSD to court for being in contempt of court, “The worst part is that the DSD was willing to sacrifice the wellbeing of the children,” concluded Botha.
As the children find their feet, after being returned to their respective places of safety, a resounding thanks goes out to everyone who made it possible.
One Response
DSD is notorious for not following protocol, rather opting for “being the law”. They convinced their seniors that the removal was urgent and that could only have come about through much stretching of the truth. The High Court should call for all documentation related to this, especially that which caused the Premier to add his permission. The police have also got a lot to answer for.