Dept given deadline to return 200 children to KZN care centres
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has ordered the KwaZulu-Natal Social Development Department to return almost 200 children to a group of homes in northern KZN - while investigations into abuse claims continue.
Government officials removed the children from three Morester Child and Youth Care Centres in Ladysmith and Newcastle over the weekend - over allegations of physical abuse and racism.
The KZN Christian Social Services - which runs the homes - approached the court for an order.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has given the Social Development Department 36 hours to return the children to the Morester homes.
Social development had temporarily placed the children in various homes across the province.
The court has ordered the department to not remove the children from the Morester homes again - while the investigation is underway.
It's ordered the department report to it in writing by mid-March - on the outcome the investigation as well as its recommendations in terms of the children being housed at the Morester centres.
The department has been advised to conduct the investigation in a way that causes minimal trauma to the children.
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The KZN Social Development Department has been ordered to pay the costs of the application - while the KZN Christian Social Services has been directed to co-operate with the department's investigations.
The matter will be back in court at the end of March where it will be decided whether to make the order permanent.
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