By Gabi Khumalo
Johannesburg – Government is satisfied that the child, who was repatriated from a Brazil prison earlier this year, has been successfully integrated with his family in South Africa.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini visited Koketso*, who is now a year-old, in Soweto on Tuesday, to find the toddler smiling and curious about his environment, as are most children of this age.
Together with two social workers and with assistance from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Dlamini flew to Brazil in July to secure the release of two children at prisons in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and escort them back to South Africa.
The mothers were convicted of drug trafficking and Brazilian correctional services only allow a child to remain with its incarcerated mother for four months after birth.
On their return to the country, the two children, then aged eight months and one year, were placed in the care of family members. Koketso was placed with his great-grandmother Vukile* in Soweto.
Today, Dlamini visited Koketso and Vukile at their home to ensure that the process of integration into the family had taken place.
“We wanted to close the case. I am happy with the process,” said the minister in an interview with SAnews.
She was especially glad because Vukile was experienced in taking care of children and is currently taking care of other kids too.
“We’ve seen a very resilient woman. The house is very clean because when you give kids to someone, you need to ensure that the house is neat and tidy. The boy can smile. We only saw one smile from Brazil to here, but today he was smiling and experimenting with his new environment,” Dlamini said.
The minister handed over a foster child grant, which Vukile will start receiving from December, as well as a food parcel, baby clothes and nappies.
Vukile thanked the minister and those involved in ensuring her great-grandson was brought to South Africa safely.
“When my granddaughter was arrested, I didn’t have power or money to bring back home her child. With the assistance of the Department of Social Development, today I’m holding her child and taking care of him. I will never forget what the department did for me,” she said.
She said if it had not been for the repatriation process, she would not have known that Koketso was born or where he was.
“I hope you don’t end with us but continue to assist other families who are in the same situation as us.”
Dlamini said the department will continue with the repatriation of other babies from prisons abroad because “when someone does something wrong, the whole family becomes affected”.
“This child is not involved in what his mother did and also the family is not involved in what their daughter did. You have to ensure that you strengthen the support for family because they have a responsibility in looking after the baby.”
The minister told Vukile that although it had been a tough journey, she should be proud of herself because her granddaughter had asked for her child to be placed with her and not anyone else.
She assured her that the department will continue to support her and her family and encouraged her to be strong.
Protecting the children
Speaking to the broader issue of drugs and women being vulnerable to drug trafficking syndicates, Dlamini said the women in the community must be vigilant at all times.
While government is not obligated to assist with the repatriation of children born in prisons abroad, it has processes in place in the event where the next of kin of such children are unable to pay for repatriation.
Paragraph 8 (2) of Chapter 2 of the Children's Act 38 of 2005 states: ''All organs of State in any sphere of government and all officials, employees and representatives of an organ of State must respect, protect and promote the rights of children contained in this Act.”
Paragraph 9 of the Act further dictates: ''In all matters concerning the care, protection and wellbeing of a child, the standards that the child's best interest is of paramount importance must be applied.”
The Department of Social Development, as the custodian of the Children’s Act, and acting in the best interest of the concerned children, normally assists with the return of children to the country and ensures suitable foster care. In the case of the two children in Brazil, the department has assessed the nominated next of kin and found them to be suitable for placement. - SAnews.gov.za
*not their real names to protect the child's identity
