Court orders return of nearly 200 KZN children
The KZN Department of Social Development has confirmed that they have been served with an order to ensure nearly 200 children are returned to the Morester Child and Youth Centres in Ladysmith and Newcastle.
The children - ranging in age from 1-month to 20-years - were forcibly removed from the homes in northern KZN a week ago following allegations of racism and abuse at the facilities.
The Maritzburg High Court ruled earlier in the week that the children must be returned to the homes while investigations continue.
They were given 36 hours to ensure the children were returned to the homes. The department’s Ncumisa Ndelu says the received the order on Thursday night.
"The department was served with an interim order by the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Our lawyers are still going through and will advise us once done", she said.
Meanwhile, the KZN Christian Social Services – the orgabisation that runs the homes – says they will return to the courts if the children are not returned.