Reader issues challenge over street children, beggars

EDITOR – When I moved to Toti 13 years ago, there were a lot of beggars, street children and drug dealers.

I saw with my own eyes how people abused the children, and used them as car thieves, and drug dealers.

I wrote a letter to Mr Mandela and told him of this abuse, and asked him to help us solve this problem. He wrote back and did something about it then. I am not very sure who did it, but all the children were off the streets, put in safe houses where they attended schools. AMCUP was one place the beggars learned a trade, so no thefts and no drug problems.

Now we have the same problem again. Now a request to the councillors of all parties. Must I write a letter to Zuma again or can you come together as one team, and not like that the praise must go to Mr so or so, but as a team?

Even the police requested that we, as the community, must not give money to beggars. Instead of giving money to beggars and children, donate it through churches to AMCUP.

Two years ago, I heard a call from behind me, someone saying ‘Granny, granny’ in Zulu. I turned around and there was one of the children from 13 years ago. He said, very happily: ‘Granny, they sent us to school and I can write and read now, and I can work.’

Now the million dollar question: Councillors, what did you do with all the beggars and children during the Soccer World Cup in 2010? Where did you hide them?

You are welcome to contact me. I can give you a lot of hints of what we did in Pietermaritzburg.

Contact the Sun by email at southcoastsun@dbn.caxton.co.za to request my contact details

Councillors, are you going to take up the challenge?

AE BURGER