The Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, through its Social Welfare Department, has successfully traced and reunited the four children from Maseyisini with their mother, after she abandoned them and left them in the care of her 12-year-old firstborn daughter.
The young girl was forced to assume the role of a parent after her mother suddenly disappeared, leaving her to care for her three younger siblings without any adult supervision or source of income.
DPM Thuli Dladla confirmed that her office intervened after the matter was reported to the police. She said an urgent search was launched in a bid to locate the missing mother.
“She was found at Makhwelela with her friends. She told the police that she was away to get a Christmas food parcel for her children. She was instructed to go back to her children, and she did. Our social workers are working on this case; they will continue monitoring the situation,” said Dladla.
The DPM strongly condemned parental abandonment, saying neglecting children is a serious offence.
She stressed that parenthood was a lifelong responsibility that could not be set aside when circumstances become difficult.
“Parenthood is not a casual role, nor is it a title that can be shrugged off when challenges arise. When parents abandon their children emotionally, physically, or entirely, they do more than disappear from a household.
“They fracture trust, destabilise lives and leave wounds that often last well into adulthood,” she said.
Dladla further stated that children come into the world entirely dependent on adults for protection and care.
“They do not choose their families. Some attempt to justify walking away by citing hardship, financial stress, or relationship breakdowns, but children should never bear the consequences of adult decisions,” she added.
According to community members, the children had been surviving largely on the goodwill of neighbours, who described the situation as dire and heart-breaking.
They revealed that the mother had arrived in Maseyisini with the children after being in a relationship with the owner of the homestead where they were staying.
The man later left the area to seek employment in South Africa, leaving the woman responsible for the children.
ALSO READ | No free lunch, Eswatini has to serve US interests – PQ Magagula
However, shortly after his departure, the mother also left the area, abandoning the children entirely.
Neighbours believe she left at the beginning of the year and did not return, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves.
With no adult supervision, the children reportedly moved from one homestead to another, asking for food just to survive.
Concerned neighbours initially tried to assist informally, but as the situation worsened, they decided to alert authorities to ensure the children received long-term support.
Help pours in for abandoned children
Donations from social media users have poured in to assist the children with food parcels and cash contributions collected through Facebook.
The support was mobilised through the page of Mzwandile Dlamini, otherwise known as Stufuza We Country.
Dlamini said most donations came from his followers after he appealed for urgent help, with many opting to give money so food could be bought and distributed quickly.
He described the situation as dire and called the appeal an emergency, noting that social media proved powerful in mobilising aid.
Plans are already in place to deliver the parcels, and Dlamini said he would personally hand them over.
He thanked everyone who donated, shared the post, or offered support.
