DCYCC feels abused by Gauteng Department of Social Development
“Nelikau and I accompanied her to the gate where she told us that she is in the process to remove Mokoena.”
Kathorus MAIL received a complaint from Dzulani Child and Youth Care Centre (DCYCC) about the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s (DSD) attempt to remove children from the orphanage without providing a reason.
According to the founder and director of DCYCC Nelisiwe Nelikau, DSD social workers went to the centre while she was in the hospital three weeks ago.
DCYCC’s social worker Anna Bopape confirmed that DSD social workers visited the centre on September 6.
“It was after lunch between 12:30 and 13:00, when a DSD social worker said she was here to request the clinic card of a child because she has to apply for his birth certificate,” said Bopape.
“We provided her with the clinic card. As she was about to leave, Nelikau and I accompanied her to the gate where she told us that she is in the process of removing the child from DCYCC.”
She said as a social worker herself she questioned why DSD was removing him.
“The social worker said they were asking too many questions and she is rushing somewhere. She returned the following day on September 7, while Nelikau was away attending to other commitments. She returned with two of her colleagues,” she explained.
“They said they had come to take the child. I was alone at the centre and I had recently started working here. I felt that I did not have the right to hand over the child to them while the director was not present.
“I told them according to the law a child cannot be removed from a place of safety without a court order. I was told the court order will be provided after they had taken the child.”
Nelikau told Kathorus MAIL that she refused to hand over the child because they have not provided a reason and a court order.
“They returned on September 13 to remove the child, but I refused and asked them to provide a court order. They left and returned again the following day with a court order to remove two other children,” said Nelikau.
“I asked why, because there was no reason for removing the child. I then called my lawyer who said I should allow them to take the children.
“I called the social worker to drop off the court order and take the children.”
Nelikau said DSD requested that child welfare remove children placed at DCYCC.
The director of the child welfare Nompumelelo Gigela said she cannot comment as she has never received any formal communication from DSD to remove children.
Kathorus MAIL emailed Social Development MEC spokesperson Feziwe Ndwayana on September 9 and followed up on September 14 and 20.
Ndwayana acknowledged receiving the email, however, it was not responded to.
Ndwayana said she is doing a follow-up with the regional director because she requested them to send her a report based on the inquiry.
Background
DCYCC was formed by Nelisiwe Nelikau in 2012 after losing her son and surviving depression.
When she recovered from depression, Nelikau vowed to stop hurting herself about what had happened to her child and instead dedicate her life to assisting children and providing a home for them.
Although the centre is her heart’s desire she has been met with financial challenges along the way. Her centre has been operational for at least 10 years without funding or support from DSD.
She funds the centre from her own pocket with support from her husband and donors.
