I met a friend of mine the other day and I told him about my idea of creating a blog of this kind and, as a friend, I thought he would be glad and support me in making it a success...but to my surprise, he was questioning me, showing me how he does not approve. No, it was not because he does not care for the children,(He works with a child development organization here in East London) but it was because he, like everybody else, fully knows that there are children out there starving and without a blanket on a cold windy day, he(like everybody else) has read newspaper and magazine pieces which tell of these stories and that is where it simply ends, in the newspaper while the child, still suffers without any form of assistance, which he did not want me to go along, writing for the 'now', not looking at the fundamental factors of the problem, the deep underlying issues which contribute to the rise of children without care, he wanted me to know and tell the real problem.
From the dawn of democracy in South Africa, under the leadership of president Nelson Mandela, the full rights of Children under the land has been emphasized and put as the highest of priority for all situations concerning the child, this is visible through the South African governments involvement with organisations which hold the rights and well-being of children at the top of its aims and objectives, these include the
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child,
National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children among other structures. Furthermore, section 28 in the constitution of South Africa is devoted entirely to children (those under 18) which states that (I have selected those that are in context with my article):
- Every child has the right to family or parental care or to appropriate alternative care when removed from the family environment
- Every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services
- Every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
Now, unlike adults who live in squatter and without proper basic rights or unlike us students who fought and still are fighting for free quality education as freedom promised us, children can not do much when their rights are being ignored, which makes what is written on paper futile as it does not promise a better life for the child.
When faced with why children see the streets as a better alternative there comes a lot into consideration. Th first is the broader picture of a normal South African family and a family that makes ends meet. This proves how unequal the people of our country are, with this inequality comes great great danger to the survival of a person, let along that of a child. The life expectancy is relatively low, the environment does not allow for the survival of the child and its ability to do what other children its age are doing, eat, learn and play.
The main reasons though for the spread of children on streets are abuse, South Africa still ranks the highest in child abuse cases, and with abuse comes other contributing factors like domestic abuse, alcohol abuse which ultimately lead to bad relationships between the child and the adult. Death due to diseases like HIV/AIDS is also the lead as both or one caregiver may die due to AIDS and the child is left in the hands of people who do not care for it, the aftermath of death destroys the child. Poverty is also a leading factor, poverty disables a child to concentrate and live a happy life, which is very important to the child's educational progression, thus the child sees a life of crime as a better option.
Children are as important as free education, as a better health service, better housing for everyone, better administration at Home Affairs! Children are as important as a better South Africa, because without better protection of the needs of children, the most vulnerable citizens in the country, there is no good in South Africa.
