Times Of Swaziland: OVER 2 000 CHILDREN  SURVIVING  ON ONE MEAL A DAY

OVER 2 000 CHILDREN  SURVIVING  ON ONE MEAL A DAY
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Sabelo Gwebu on 02/11/2024 10:26:00


MALKERNS – A community tells a different story in the fast-improving town of
Malkerns.
The Mangozeni Township, nestled in this small town known for its vibrant
pineapple farms and scenic landscapes, shows a picture of hardship, neglect and
the daily struggle for survival. The township is home to over 2 000 children
under nine and is facing a crisis that demands urgent attention from both local
authorities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
As local Social Motivator Dumile Maphalala recorded, over 2 000 children depend
on a soup kitchen meal for survival. Mangozeni is less than 600 square metres in
size, but because of the situation, two soup kitchens, Great Commission and
Malkerns Soup Kitchen, have set up base. The biggest struggle now is what to
feed the hungry mouths.
Challenge
“The biggest challenge of Mangozeni is the frequent pregnancies. Most of these
children stay with either one of their parents, and most are unemployed. “The
only job for the residents is seasonal, which is working at Swazi Can during the
citrus season,” Maphalala said. Mangozeni is characterised by its poor living
conditions, where families grapple with extreme poverty and limited access to
essential resources like electricity and water.
Water is available at E1 Lilangeni per 20 litres, but some households cannot
afford that. For many residents, a daily meal is a luxury, while a mere E20 for
bread is as scarce as water in the Kalahari Desert. The community’s reliance
on these soup kitchens highlights the urgent need for food security and, most
importantly, social support. Maphalala, a dedicated social motivator in the
township, is vocal about the alarming issues facing the township. She points out
that Mangozeni is grappling with a high rate of teenage pregnancies and a
growing population.
The lack of employment opportunities in the area has created a desperate
situation, leading many mothers to allegedly turn to sex work as a means of
survival. With most jobs in the town tied to the seasonal demands of the
pineapple farms, work is often irregular and insufficient to meet the needs of
families. “This precarious economic situation leaves little room for parental
engagement, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the children.
Exception
“The impact of poverty on child development is profound, and the children of
Mangozeni are no exception,” Maphalala lamented. She continued that without
proper care and supervision, these young lives are at risk of falling into
cycles of neglect and deprivation. She added that as social workers, they are
deeply concerned about the long-term implications of such neglect, which can
hinder children’s physical, emotional and cognitive development. “One of the
pressing issues facing Mangozeni is the lack of birth certificates for many
children.
“The parents, mostly teenagers, do not understand that registration is a
critical step in ensuring that children have access to essential services, such
as education and healthcare,” she added. Visibly, the situation in Mangozeni
is a small-scale, broader societal issue faced by many communities in the
country. While the government has made strides in addressing poverty and
improving social welfare, the challenges faced by the township residents
highlight the need for more targeted interventions.
Collaborations between government agencies, NGOs and local communities is
essential to create sustainable solutions. As social workers seek assistance
from NGOs for food supplies, they also advocate for comprehensive programmes
that address the root causes of poverty in the area.
This includes initiatives to empower women through skills training and access to
employment opportunities. “By providing women with viable pathways to economic
independence, the cycle of poverty can be broken, allowing them to better care
for their children,” she said.
As the community of Mangozeni grapples with its challenges, society’s
collective responsibility to uplift and support its most vulnerable members
becomes ever more pressing. Maphalala added that the Malkerns Town Board needs
to address the Mangozeni situation as it will hinder the town’s progress in
development.
Assistance
Local authorities or the government must take action to address the issues,
which include not only providing food assistance but also implementing
programmes that promote education, health and child welfare. “By investing in
the future of these children, the government can help ensure that they grow up
in an environment that nurtures their potential instead of stifling it.
Community leaders and residents of Mangozeni must also play an active role in
advocating for change.”
She highlighted that even if the Malkerns Town Board is willing to help, it will
be difficult because the real homeowners no longer live there, and only tenants
are left. “Tenants do not understand the necessity of attending town board
meetings,” she said.