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Children must be monitored

Taking care of children for such a long time was a good thing for Eunice Mabaso to have done, but one should consider the fact that there are relevant steps and procedures to be followed in running a children's home.

Taking care of children for such a long time was a good thing for Eunice Mabaso to have done, but one should consider the fact that there are relevant steps and procedures to be followed in running a children's home.

We should always consider the safety of the children first. One cannot just open an orphanage centre if one does not have the necessary skills just because one feels sorry for children.

Residential children's homes and childcare centres are primarily care facilities and the Department of Social Develop- ment is responsible for monitoring them. Closing down and removing children from unregistered facilities that are potentially harmful and dangerous to children makes absolute sense.

A four-roomed house cannot accommodate about 30 children of different ages.

People are operating illegal children's homes that lack basic requirements such as security and improperly trained staff to care for the children. The department was correct to take the action that it did.

What needs to be done now is for Mabaso to register the centre and to make sure that there is continual evaluation and monitoring from the department.

Tommy Huma,

PRO: Child Welfare South Africa

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