More than 2000 children are abandoned annually in South Africa because of Aids, poverty, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies, Child Welfare South Africa revealed.

Most of the children are under the age of 10, as it is reportedly “easier” to abandon them in public areas such as parks and hospitals, while older children are left with relatives before the biological parents disappear.

Child Welfare South Africa has also revealed that mothers, particularly economic migrants and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries, were abandoning their children in big numbers at hospitals after birth.

It was also proving difficult to identify and find the mothers because they give false names.

The mothers soon return to their native countries without their babies, with the knowledge that the children will be safe and cared for.

Megan Briede, acting Gauteng coordinator of Child Welfare SA, told Sowetan that between 2000 and 2300 cases of child abandonment and neglect had been recorded over the last three years, an increase of between 8percent and 10percent year on year.

“The problem (of abandoned children) is not levelling off but showing a steady increase,” Briede said.

“Child Welfare SA has recorded approximately 2392 new cases of abandonment (in the past year), with the majority (60percent to 75percent) being African.”

Current statistics put the figures of abandoned children at:

• African: 1500

• Coloured: 700

• Indian: 70 to 80

• White: 30

Read the full article at the Sowetan