The mother of this disabled 16-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother is being sought by authorities after the children were found abandoned in a hokkie.
The kids were sitting in their own excrement and did not have any food when members of the local neighbourhood watch found them in their Wendy house in Leiden, Delft, on Wednesday.
A member of the “Enough is Enough” Neighbourhood Watch, Angelique Ross, says she found the girl crawling helplessly on the pavement after she suffered epileptic fits.
The teen has cerebral palsy and was being cared for by her little brother after their mother was said to have gone to Parow on Wednesday.
The mother’s boyfriend, who lives with them, was at work.
A case of child neglect has since been opened against the mother, police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed, “with no arrests so far”.
SHOCK: Siblings’ living conditions. Photo: Supplied
Residents claim cops and social workers took more than 16 hours to assist the children.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut, says: “The allegation that police never arrived when summoned to a serious complaint such as child neglect will have to be investigated.”
Angelique says while waiting for help, the girl had eight epileptic fits.
She says their team went to investigate at about 3 pm after being informed that an unrelated 14-year-old boy had threatened to set the Wendy house alight.
When they arrived, they were shocked to find maggots and flies breeding in buckets that the children use as toilets.
“The child was lying on the pavement and she was crawling,” Angelique says.
“In the hours I was with her, she had eight seizures.
“The mother left the children and went to Parow and the eight-year-old brother had to care for her.
“She can only take five steps and then she falls over. She cannot walk or talk and wears nappies. But when we were there she was not wearing a nappy.”
Angelique also slammed social workers who only assisted the children “16 hours later”.
“The mother came home at 9 pm and we were told she will be arrested. The child did not see the social worker on Wednesday, only yesterday morning in hospital.”
DISGUSTING: Maggots, flies were found breeding in buckets. Photo: Supplied
Both children are currently in the care of social workers.
Cayla Murray, spokesperson for MEC for Social Development, Albert Fritz, says they are investigating: “The Department was first alerted to this matter by a social worker based at the day hospital today (yesterday).
“The child was taken to hospital (Wednesday) night and received medical treatment.
“The case has since been assigned to one of the Department’s social workers.”
She says mense can reach the department after hours by calling 082 227 0478, and those based in Delft can call 060 369 6064.