Umlazi boy rescued after being ‘locked’ in house with dogs and no food for more than a month

28 April 2021 - 13:45 By suthentira govender
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
A seven-year-old Umlazi boy is in a place of safety after he was allegedly locked in a house without food by his father. File image.
A seven-year-old Umlazi boy is in a place of safety after he was allegedly locked in a house without food by his father. File image.
Image: 123RF/ARTIT OUBKAEW

A seven-year-old Umlazi boy has been taken to a place of safety after he was allegedly locked in a house by his father with dogs and no access to food for more than a month.

The KwaZulu-Natal social development department intervened after being alerted about the alleged incident of severe child neglect in D Section of the south Durban township.

According to the department, neighbours found the special-needs child locked in the home.

“The boy, who stayed with his father, was spotted by members of the public standing inside the house secured with burglar guards. It remained locked daily. 

“It is believed the boy was left in the care of his father by his grandmother. The father allegedly left the boy locked in the house more than a month ago,” said social development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza.

“We have been taken aback by the conditions the child was left in. The child has been left in a despicable condition. No child deserves to be treated like this.”

Khoza said she would push for law enforcement agencies to “show no mercy on individuals involved in any form of child abuse”. 

“There should be no negotiations with abusers. We are leaving no stone unturned in dealing with such cases in our society,” she said.

“A number of children are brought up in unsafe homes. We encourage parents to make use of government help if they find themselves unable to take care of children.”

A team of social workers has been deployed to provide psychosocial support to the child.

TimesLIVE


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now