Child protection crisis: the hidden crisis of forced begging in Chatsworth

A 41-year-old Chatsworth woman faces charges after allegedly brutally assaulting her 15-year-old daughter and forcing her to beg on the streets.

Child protection experts warn that using children for begging constitutes abuse, exploitation, and is a criminal offence that deprives children of education and exposes them to multiple dangers.

The Westcliff woman was arrested and charged after she allegedly brutally assaulted her daughter in December. The teenager was found by authorities to have been neglected.

Several sources from the community told the POST that the teenager was not at school and had been spotted begging on the streets.

“This woman has been begging on the streets with the girl from the time she was little. Now that she is older, we believe that she has been forcing the child to beg,” the source claimed.

Adeshini Naicker, director of Childline KZN, said the use of children for begging was a serious and ongoing problem, particularly in communities affected by poverty, unemployment and substance abuse. 

“While not all street-begging involves children being forced by parents, we regularly encounter cases where children are deliberately sent out to beg or are used to evoke sympathy from the public. This places children at high risk of neglect, abuse and exploitation.

“There are several contributing factors. These include extreme poverty, unemployment, substance dependency, mental health challenges and a lack of access to social support services. In some cases, parents normalise the behaviour because it becomes a source of income,” said Naicker.

“This is a violation of the child’s constitutional and human rights. Children have the right to protection from neglect, abuse and exploitation under the South African Constitution and the Children’s Act. Forcing a child to beg denies them their right to dignity, education, proper care and protection from harm. It is a form of child labour and economic exploitation, particularly when the child is expected to generate income for an adult,” she added.

She said forcing a child to beg was a punishable offence.

“Using a child for begging can constitute neglect, abuse and exploitation under the Children’s Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, depending on the circumstances. Parents or caregivers who force children to beg may face criminal charges, including child neglect, assault or child abuse. The law is clear that children must be protected from activities that compromise their safety, development and wellbeing,” Naicker said.

“Children who are used for begging are exposed to multiple risks. These include physical harm from traffic or violence, emotional trauma, stigma and long-term psychological damage. They are often denied education and proper nutrition, leading to developmental delays. Over time, these children may internalise feelings of worthlessness and may struggle to form healthy relationships or trust adults,” she added.

Naicker said Childline had dealt with numerous cases involving children being forced to beg or being used by caregivers to solicit money. 

“In one case, a young child was routinely taken to busy intersections and instructed to beg while the parent waited nearby. The child was found to be malnourished and not attending school. After intervention, the child was placed in temporary safe care and the parent was referred for social services and legal action was considered,” she said.

Shantal Bechoo, director of the Anti-Drug Forum in Chatsworth, said they had worked collaboratively with partners to address cases involving the exploitation of children used for begging in Chatsworth.

She said interventions typically included referrals to child protection services, substance abuse treatment programmes, structured parenting interventions, and ongoing monitoring.

“The primary focus remains the immediate safety and well-being of the child, alongside addressing contributing risk factors within the family.

“The use of children for begging is a significant child protection concern. Although the extent of the problem is difficult to quantify due to underreporting, cases are encountered across various communities, particularly those affected by chronic poverty and social instability. Such situations often remain hidden until there is evidence of neglect, abuse, or direct harm to the child,” she added.

Bechoo said contributing factors frequently included extreme socio-economic deprivation, substance abuse, untreated mental health conditions, limited access to social support services, and intergenerational patterns of neglect. 

“While these factors contextualise the behaviour, they do not mitigate the responsibility of caregivers to act in the best interests of the child. The use of children for begging constitutes a violation of the child’s fundamental rights as enshrined in child protection legislation. It infringes on the child’s right to care, protection, dignity, health, and development. Exposing a child to unsafe environments, neglect, and exploitation meets the threshold for statutory intervention and may constitute criminal conduct,” she said.

Chairperson of the Chatsworth Spiritual Crime Prevention Unit, Reverend Cyril Pillay, said child begging was a form of modern slavery and was prevalent in Chatsworth, Queensburgh and Merebank.

“Begging is often rooted in systemic socioeconomic and individual crises. The broken family structures of parental separation, death of parents often leads to children being left in precarious positions where they are vulnerable to exploitation. Children who are forced into begging often suffer from physical abuse, psychological damage, sexual exploitation and the lack of education.

“The use of children for begging by parents and guardians is a severe violation and a form of child exploitation. This practice often places children in immediate danger, robbing them of their rights to education, safety and a good nurturing childhood. 

“The child has a right to be protected from economic exploitation, has the right to Education and Health and a nurturing family environment. Allowing children to beg constitutes neglect, abandonment and exposure to danger. We need to end this by reporting cases to metro police,” Pillay said.

Durban metro police spokesperson, Colonel Boysie Zungu, urged residents and motorists to report parents who use their children for begging.

“Metro police in Chatsworth are not aware of this problem of children being used for begging. Nothing was reported to our station in Chatsworth, and we encourage and urge the public to report these matters,” Zungu said.

THE POST