Durban — A report has revealed that allegations that children living at the Aryan Benevolent Home (ABH) Children's Home in Chatsworth had suffered from abuse at the hands of their care workers months ago were true.
On Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga presented the findings of their investigation into the allegations of abuse and malnutrition at ABH.
According to its website, ABH, a non-profit organisation and Public Benefit Organisation, provides services to more than 610 vulnerable people daily and has been operating for 101 years. ABH has five facilities in the greater Durban area, which cares for the elderly and children. The Children’s Home houses at least 102 children aged between 7 and 11 years, from different backgrounds.
Accompanied by senior officials from the department, Shinga presented the findings of the report to ABH management and its stakeholders. The report took three weeks to complete.
Shinga said the investigations included interactions with the children at the home and staff. It was confirmed the children were abused physically and emotionally. The abuse included starving the children. Corporal punishment was also confirmed. The children themselves said they were told often that they were poor and should not complain.
Shinga said the report showed pictures of the fridges where food was stored and “this did not meet the guided nutrition list” for child welfare homes. The menu was often bread that was given as donations.
Shinga said many children were not able to participate in religions of their background.
The department HOD Nelisiwe Vilakazi said the investigation found that ABH did not run background checks on their staff, especially in line with Part B of the Child Protection register and that a case has been opened with the SAPS but is yet to be finalised.
“If you are applying to work with children there has to be a thorough check on whether you are a previous sexual offender or have any other abuse charge against children. Part of our recommendations are that they need to check all officials are not in the child protection register,” said Vilakazi.
Vilakazi made recommendations to follow going forward. She said the department would monitor the implementation.
The children’s home’s CEO, Ray Naguran, told the Daily News they had received a summary of the report and had not had time to go through it. Naguran said the home seemed to have settled down and was running smoothly. He said all stakeholders were aware of the investigations.
“We have been communicating with our stakeholders in various ways, including newsletters, and we will engage them further after we have read through the report and are ready to comment,” said Naguran.
Elders Voice KZN founder Joanne Herbst said the owners of institutions that work with both the elderly and the young have to do a police clearance to ensure staff can work because they would be looking after the vulnerable.
Adeshini Naicker, director of Childline KZN said they were deeply concerned by the findings of child abuse and malnutrition at ABH.
“While we are unable to directly intervene, we are committed to ensuring these issues are addressed by urging the relevant authorities to take action. We emphasise the importance of corrective measures to protect children and prevent future incidents. We will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for the necessary steps to resolve these critical concerns, while we are open to offering assistance,” Naicker said.
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