Shocking statistics on the abandoning of new-born babies across South Africa have pointed to the collapse of family structures.
In the Eastern Cape, statistics show that while cities have shown an increase in child abandonment cases, it is also becoming common in rural towns.
Two weeks ago, twin babies were found in a dust bin in Mbizana, while an crying infant was discovered by a doctor driving out of Settlers Hospital in Grahamstown early last month.
Chairperson of the portfolio committee on social development, Zoleka Capa says there is a strong social support that is required.
“It is on the increase and the young women that do not have a strong – either a family support or community support. The most disadvantaging is that if you are still schooling and then you fall pregnant, your career as a student is now doomed for life. No one is going look for your child or yourself even if we give you a grant, a grant cannot be translated in everything. There is a strong social support that is required.”
The CEO of Door of Hope, an NGO looking after abandoned children, Allen David says there are homes like Good For Hope that are able to look after them.
“Education is giving mothers opportunities, alternative solutions, making mothers aware about the information available for them; making mothers more aware about the places that are available for them to look after the kids with the option of adoption so they do not have to throw the babies away. They can bring them to a safe place where there are homes like Good For Hope and others that are able to look after them and give them other opportunity to adopt.”
