LESS than 24 hours after the KZN Department of Social Development (DSD) released its damning findings into the allegations of abuse at the Aryan Benevolent (ABH), in Chatsworth, the board announced it would close the children’s home.
Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga released the findings of the investigation at a media briefing yesterday.
The investigation, led by head of department for the KZN DSD, Nelisiwe Vilakazi, found that the children had been mentally and physically abused.
Shinga said that children were found to have been starved and had been forced into following one particular religion.
In a statement by the ABH chief operating officer earlier, Ray Naguran, said the decision was taken “following a series of baseless and malicious statements made by Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga.
“The board, composed entirely of volunteers and patrons who served our home on an unpaid basis, is deeply disheartened by the fabrication and mistruths propagated by the MEC in the media.
“These damaging comments have not only cast unwarranted aspersions on the integrity of our organisation but have also undermined the tireless work and commitment of our volunteers, who have dedicated their lives to the well-being of vulnerable children,” said Naguran.
He said as a direct result of these misleading claims, they had come to the extremely difficult decision to serve notice to the Department of Social Development that the children's home would be closed within 90 days.
“The ABH has served as a pillar of support and care in the community for over 103 years, offering critical services and a nurturing environment for children in need. The children's home was first opened in Cato Manor in 1929 and was formally established in Arena Park, Chatsworth in 1979. It is deeply regrettable that misinformation has led us to this decision, affecting not only our organization but also the very children we have sought to uplift and care for,” he said.
Naguran assured their supporters and stakeholders that they would continue to support the children currently at the home with the utmost care and dignity as they worked closely with the DSD to ensure a smooth transition to another facility.
“The board calls for responsible reporting and urges all parties to visit the ABH for a factual account of the recent events while being cognisant of the valuable work done by organizations like ABH that operate purely out of a sense of service to the community. We are confident that our legacy of care and compassion will endure despite this unfortunate chapter,” he added.
Thuba Vilane, spokesperson for the KZN DSD, said: “Yesterday we handed over the report to ABH and they requested time to go through the report. We will hear from them once that is done. Currently, I am not aware of any communication between them and the department after yesterday's meeting. We had not received any communication that the home would be closing.”
Logan Naidu, director of Child Welfare Chatsworth (CWC), said he had grave concerns after hearing about the MEC’s report and findings, and the subsequent announcement of the closure of the home.
Naidu said CWC had placed 19 children at ABH, and they had not received any communication from ABH about the closure of the home.
“What stands out in this case for me, is that it is being made as if all parties that became aware of and acted on allegations of the abuse and mistreatment of children at the home were being accused of lying. This, despite the actual physical abuse being confirmed by the police, who were still busy with this matter in terms of charges.
“Child Welfare Chatsworth will stand firmly behind and support the kind of approach that the MEC had taken. The closure of the children's home is unfortunate. The DSD must urgently address this, as a children's home is required in Chatsworth and we need a facility for them.
“We encourage DSD to engage with non-governmental organisations in Chatsworth to see who can carry this responsibility,” Naidu said.
Adeshini Naicker, the Director of Childline KZN, said the ABH management's decision marked a significant loss for the community, as child and youth care facilities played an essential role in supporting vulnerable children and youth.
“We at Childline KZN were deeply saddened to learn of the impending closure of ABH Children’s Home. The services provided by the ABH have been invaluable in offering safety, stability, and care to those in need. With the rising number of children requiring support in our region, the closure of such facilities only exacerbates an already critical situation."