Street teen Michael ‘needs a miracle’
He is a familiar if sometimes threatening face at the Oribi Plaza traffic lights.
STREET teen Michael Naidoo’s worrying behaviour has come under the spotlight again.
Many social media posts have again surfaced about Michael. He often loiters at the Oribi Plaza intersection traffic lights. He is known to become very aggressive when his requests for money are declined often swearing and gesticulating in a threatening manner.
While people are deeply concerned about him, they don’t know how to assist this teenager who appears to have mammoth problems.
Sagree Naicker of Child Welfare, Port Shepstone, said they have done everything in their power to help Michael, who is thought to be around 16 years of age, and the issue now needs to be tackled by the Department of Social Development.
“Some of these street children don’t want to be helped. They enjoy living on the streets and getting money,” she said.
Ms Naicker explained that there are no resources or places on the South Coast to help children of Michael’s age.
She added that Michael does have family prepared to care for him, but he refuses to live with them.
A few years ago, he was taken to Khayalethu Children’s Home where he did extremely well at school.
However, problems arose when he didn’t want to work with the system.
Ms Naicker said she personally drove Michael to a place of safety in Howick but when they got there he refused point blank to stay there. “These places can only help the child if the child is willing to work with them,” she added.
When the Department of Social Development stepped in, Michael ran away.
“He refuses to work with the system. Michael is set in his ways of doing things and doesn’t want to change. He is street wise, very clever, manipulative and good at getting his own way with people who don’t know him. He needs a person who is strong and can be his mentor on a long term basis,” she said.
Ms Naicker added that ‘Michael actually is in need of a miracle’.
The department will be contacted for a response.
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