Cape Town - Girls and Boys Town, a child and youth care centre located near Macassar, provides a haven for many children seeking support and guidance. However, concerns have been raised about the safety protocols in place due to reports of youth leaving the facility without permission.
A mother's heartfelt plea regarding her son's repeated escape attempts highlights how well these care facilities fulfil their responsibilities to at-risk youth.
According to the mother, who wished to remain anonymous, her son and two other boys recently left the facility but returned a few hours later.
She says this is not the first time her son has run away. He was placed in the facility by a court earlier this year and was even enrolled at a high school in Macassar, she recalls.
But she started noticing troubling behaviour and reached out to management. “I asked them if they knew boys smoke weed and what they do about it. My son is smoking again, and they are doing it there at Boys Town and the staff there knows a lot,” she said.
Lee Loynes, CEO of Girls and Boys Town, South Africa, said the facility was not a secure care or detention centre, and the relevant authorities were aware of the situation.
The Macassar campus accommodates 50 boys aged 11 to 18, relying entirely on donations for support.
Girls and Boys Town is located within walking distance of Macassar town. Community leader Waseemah Flaendorp noted that it was not uncommon for boys to abscond.
“That always happens, boys running away from Boys Town now and again, but they are always taken back,” Flaendorp said.
In response to the question about whether the boys had run away, she mentioned that they can't share specific details but assured that the centre is a safe environment for children, just like their other homes and facilities across the country.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups like Ilitha Labantu highlight the significance of such institutions in creating structured settings where children can access the care and resources essential for their growth and development.
Siya Monakali, a spokesperson for Ilitha Labantu, said that the success of these spaces greatly depends on their management, responsiveness to children's needs, and the resources they provide.
He pointed out that many of these children come from communities plagued by high crime rates, violence, unemployment, and substance abuse.
“Places of safety are especially needed for vulnerable children, offering a much-needed reprieve from these harsh realities. However, more must be done to prioritise the overall well-being of children in our society,” he said.
Monakali further explained that children are particularly vulnerable to societal dangers, and these issues need to be addressed more thoroughly.
“When children leave such programmes, they often return to the same toxic environments they were initially removed from,” he said.
byron.lukas@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus