Teens learn to cope as heads of SA families

Heart-rending times after parents die

ANDISWE Makabela was still in high school when the duty of heading the household and looking after her younger brother was thrust upon her.

When she was 12 years old Makabela’s mother, a domestic worker, died.

The duty of household head was then shifted to her grandfather, but he died four years later, leaving Makabela, just 16 at the time, to look after herself and her eight-year-old brother.

And Makabela, of Walmer, is not alone.

Figures from Statistics SA’s general household survey suggest that 0.5% of children live in this type of household, and that there are about 90 000 children in 50 000 child-headed households nationally.

Child-headed households are at risk of having to cope not only without adults, but also with poorer living conditions than other children.

Responding to the situation, changes to laws were introduced to make it possible for children over 16 who have assumed the role of family caregiver to collect the monthly grant.

This means Makabela was legally eligible to collect the state’s social grant for her family. It was then up to her to ensure that household bills and supplies were seen to.

But there are no laws in place to address or curb some of the other challenges facing the young caregivers of such families, meaning this responsibility is placed on social services or community and family members.

“It was difficult for me because I had to look after myself and prepare myself for school, then make sure my brother was looked after too,” Maka- bela said. “The truth is no one in my family helps us.

“But my neighbour helps out, like helping me open an account at Mr Price.

“We pay them back once a month. Sometimes, when my brother needs something for school or needs a new pair of school shoes, I have to break the monthly budget to buy it or borrow money.”

Makabela, now 21 and unemployed, plans to focus her full attention on her brother – helping him become the success she knows he can be.

Her daily routine revolves around him, from waking up at 6am to preparing him for school, assisting him with homework, and making supper for him later.

The legal definition of a child-headed household, contained in Section 137 of the Children’s Act, includes a household in which a child over the age of 16 has assumed the role of caregiver.

This means that there may be an adult living in the household but the adult is unable to provide sufficiently, owing to old age or illness.

Statistics from the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town found that due to the HIV epidemic, there has been a marked increase in the proportion of children in South Africa who have lost both parents.

Bay counsellor Emmanuel Dubula says that from his research, “in most cases parents die because of HIV”.

“Another prominent cause is drug and alcohol addiction. Parents who struggle with substance abuse become unfit to run a household.

“So the kids move out of the house with their siblings. Ultimately, the youths may even get involved with illegal things to provide for their family.”

‘ Parents who struggle with substance abuse become unfit to run a household