Social Development investigating Ekurhuleni Child Welfare for denying care to abandoned toddler

The Department of Social Development has launched an investigation into the alleged unprocedural conduct of a child welfare centre in Ekurhuleni after claims it denied care to an abandoned toddler.

This follows reports made by NGO Baby Savers South Africa, who claim the Edenvale Child Welfare refused to provide statutory services to a 20-month-old child who needed urgent medical services.

It’s believed baby Nandi was initially denied care after she was abandoned by her mother earlier this year and placed at the ‘Tree of Hope’ baby box in Edenvale.

While the Department said the baby boxes are illegal, it says it will probe whether there was any misconduct when baby Nandi was denied care by the Edenvale Child Welfare.

The child who has a preexisting complex medical condition was, according to the non-profit coalition of organisations, denied help due to the ongoing legal battle over baby boxes.

In 2023, the Department of Social Development deemed the practice of leaving a child in a box as an illegal practice, as it is not sanctioned by the Children’ Act.

Director for children’s services, Yvonne Deonarian, explained that this practice is unregulated, but she adds that all children who need help should always be put first, beyond all legal issues.

“Edenvale Child Welfare is in a position of a designated certificate in line with section 107. So what does it mean to have this designation certificate? It means you can render services in line with section 105 of the act. Section 105 then spells out very clearly what are the services that can be rendered by a designated child protection organisation, and that includes proceedings of the children's court, prevention services, early intervention services, integration, reunification, placement of a child in adoption, carrying out investigations, intervention and removal of children in appropriate cases.”

She said the department still plans to oppose the practice of baby boxes.