Posts Tagged "child abandonment"

The aftermath of child abandonment

There are very few stories told about how it feels to be abandoned at birth.  It makes Sindi’s amazing account of being aborted and abandoned when her mother was six months pregnant even more powerful. Miraculously, she survived her abandonment, and is now in her 40s. Despite her prematurity and a very unsettled childhood, where she was moved from one...

Child abandonment in SA: hidden & heart-breaking

by Robyn Wolfson Vorster Despite the occasional headline, child abandonment in South Africa remains largely unreported.  The little we do know reveals that it is both shockingly prevalent, and deadly.  So why is it so wide-spread and what can be done to prevent it, or at the least, minimise its impact? In the absence of comprehensive government-led research, it...

Without a trace: the shocking fate of SA’s abandoned children

by Robyn Wolfson Vorster Researching child abandonment in South Africa is akin to opening Pandora’s box. Coupled as it is with illegal, late-term abortion, the body count (when you can find them) amounts to tens of thousands. It could be many times that amount; perhaps we would know if the government was ever prepared to count them. Criminal activity...

Abandoned children, South Africa’s dirty little secret

by Robyn Wolfson Vorster Around 3,500 children are abandoned in South Africa annually. News of yet another child found dead or left in a precarious position elicits strong public condemnation and emotion. Public consensus on the issue of child abandonment generally provokes a knee-jerk response to blame and demonise mothers. But despite our deeply felt beliefs, research has indicated...