Streets home to more kids
CONCERN has been expressed about the sudden influx of street children, many of them only about six or seven years old, begging at city intersections.
Motorists interviewed this week pointed out that it was becoming a serious problem and many were concerned that the children could turn violent and smash windows or even vandalise their vehicles if they were not given money.
While the Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci) said yesterday that it had not received any complaints from local businesses regarding street children, its chief executive officer, Sharon Steyn, urged members of the public not to give street children money because this encourages them to leave their homes and take to the streets.
Apparently street children themselves see it as a “business” to stand at robots and stop streets, especially during peak traffic, and beg.
“We have walked from Greenpoint to town to spin money,” some of them told the DFA.
Some said they made as much as R40 on a good day but other days they take home nothing. One 14year-old said that he started begging four years ago.
“At first it was just a form of playing after school with friends, but now I do it permanently. It is like working for yourself.
“Street life is dangerous but at home and school no one understands my challenges,” the youngster said. “Street companions do not judge you, we all spin together.”
He added that his home life was difficult because there was unemployment and his sister abused alcohol. “There is no source of income or any food at home. Spinning for money helps us to survive.”
Life on the streets, however, is not easy and another child recounted how he was attacked by an older man who wanted to steal his money.
“We all sniff glue and smoke cigarettes and dagga,” he said.
Even while being interviewed, the youngsters did not stop long to talk and dashed off again as cars stopped at the intersection to hustle for money.
“Spinning money has become our lifestyle, hence even in bad weather we stand at the robots and the stop streets,” they said.
Spokesman for the Department of Social Development, Tebogo Mokae, said that children living on the streets did not come from facilities like children’s homes or child and youth centres.
“Many of them live at home and attend school and only go to the streets in the afternoon to beg.”
This, however, was refuted by motorists and members of the public who said even small children were begging throughout the day, including in the mornings.
Mokae said that while the department did not have a open public shelter for children living and working on the streets, it funded the Thusong Shelter to specifically accommodate street children.
Child and youth care centres also accommodate street children.
Mokae added that while the placement of street children in these facilities was a statutory process, their fluid, evasive and unpredictable lifestyles meant it takes a long time to place them in facilities.
“We assess the extent to which the family involved is functioning and provide capacity-building and empowerment to the parents to deal with and handle the challenging behaviour of the children and render reunification services.
“The high levels of unemployment, poverty, relationship problems and dysfunctional families also influence reunification services,” Mokae said.
Thusong matron, Gladys Tsiane, said yesterday that children were not being forced to stay at the centre.
“The number of street children, even here at Thusong, has increased. One can only try and help them by giving them food, enrolling them in school and providing clothes and shelter, but at the end of the day, some still prefer to live on the streets.”
Spokesman for the police, Lieutenant Olebogeng Tawana, said yesterday that people sleeping during the day or night in front of the shops or hanging around street corners were a major concern and a social challenge.
“Standing on street corners, at robots or at intersections is not classified as a crime and there are no grounds to arrest these children who are begging for food or money. They can only be arrested if they commit an offence.”
He added that the police had continuous social crime projects which addressed these challenges through campaigns and awareness.
Spokesman for the Sol Plaatje Municipality, Sello Matsie, said that children living on the streets were the result of social problems and said that while by-laws outlawed street hawking in non-designated areas, it would not be appropriate to legislate begging.
“Many of the children are from families with different backgrounds but the common factor remains poverty. We have, together with a non-governmental organisation, advised members of the public that by providing money to the children they are simply encouraging them to return.”
Matsie also said that substance abuse was very common among the street children and they used the money given to them to feed their addictions.
“It is true that the number has increased over the years and, as the municipality, we will always work with other stakeholders in an attempt to alleviate this social problem.”