Childline KZN Annual Report

ORPHAN & VULNERABLE CHILD PROGRAMME 1 Introduction Given an urgent need to reach out to both women and children who have already become or are at acute risk of being victims of abuse, Childline and USAID are working to introduce Orphan and Vulnerable children Program into outlying areas. One such area is Ngonyameni to the south of Durban, which is home to more than 20 000 people.

This is a traditional community with long standing cultural traditions. Extreme poverty is a way of life and infrastructure is non-existent. The majority of the community is unemployed. Women cultivate fields and harvest sweet potatoes, yams and mealies to sell. Although most men are unemployed, the few that do work build mud houses and herd cattle and sheep.

Roads are not tarred and minibus taxis are the only form of transport. According to community members, taxis arrive erratically at two hour intervals. This means community members walk wherever they wish to go. Those with a little money have to walk nearly 8km to the nearest food store while children are forced to walk long distances to school through dangerous forests.

Children are neglected because of the lack of resources. Few areas have running water and most rely on municipal vehicles for an erratic supply of water. Food is also in short supply. Feeding schemes operate at schools as many children do not have food at home.

Health care is another major problem. There is no hospital, but a clinic is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A mobile clinic visits the area erratically. This is of particular concern in light of high levels of HIV infection. There is an urgent need for education as many communities are in denial and do not know their HIV status. This, together with increasing levels of domestic violence, can be attributed to gender relations within the community. Men believe in polygamous marriages and have an average of four wives.

Women appear to have no rights and information gathered indicates that only men are entitled to make decisions.

However, the main decision maker within the community is the chief. He deals with all matters, including crime and abuse, in the tribal court. Decisions are based on beliefs and cultural traditions. If a crime such as sexual abuse is committed, the perpetrator is ordered to pay compensation (e.g. a goat or beers) to the chief and, on occasion, to the victim.

The Chief has to give permission for a matter to be reported to the SAPS. However,there is no police station in the area. The nearest one is the Bhekithemba Police Station in Umlazi.

Outsiders need permission from the Chief to visit the community.

As a result, community members are very secretive and information gathering is extremely challenging.

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