After a while, the baby was sent to live in Zimbabwe with family, but the other two were still being left alone.

The little girl (we will call her N) has never been in school. Her brother is in grade 3 in a school, but he can’t read yet. Little N would get up in the morning with her brother (Let’s call him S) S would wake up when he heard bags shuffling in the shacks next to them. They would both get dressed and little N would follow the neighbourhood kids to the primary school about 5 km away.

She had never been registered for school, so she wouldn’t be allowed in the gates, and would then walk back by herself and spend the days wandering around the township by herself. At the end of February, when they realised that the kids were being abandoned for days at a time, Melisah, with Justin’s blessing, took little N in to stay with them.

She told the mother she was taking her in. They left S because he was attending school and because Justin and Melisah only have a one room shack themselves. A month later, Justin saw 10-year-old S pushing a barrel up a steep hill. He stopped and asked him what he was doing. S burst into tears and said he was helping someone move it because he needed some money to buy food because he hadn’t eaten all day. His mother hadn’t been back for 4 days.

That was the final straw and Justin brought S home as well. The kids have been with them for 3 and 4 months respectively.

Not once did either father or mother reach out to see how the kids were doing. Justin and Melisah have tried numerous times to talk to the parents and even got the department of social services involved. The social worker came out to talk to the parents and the mother walked out. The father wants nothing to do with them.

Melisah tells me that N is very bright and super talkative – she was very shy when I was visiting, and that S is such a little man who walks himself to school every day. It takes him about an hour at least one way, since he is now with Justin and Melisah, who live a bit further away, but he never complains.

Melisah shows us where everyone sleeps at night- S sleeps on the couch and N and Mellisah’s daughter Natalia share a sleeping space. Melissah shows us the only shoes S had when he came to them. He would beg some super-glue off a street vendor to close the strap, which kept breaking.

When they went back with the social worker to confront the parents and get the kids’ clothes, the clothes of both kids fit in a little school bag and S did not have a school uniform and his school shoes were 3 sizes too small. 

How you can help

So, where do we even begin to ask for help and assistance?

For the protection of the kids we’ve pixelated little N’s face and not shared names. A first priority is to get N in school, as she’s never been. Melisah’s been to visit several schools in the area, and the only one who will take her midyear is the school her little brother goes to. It’s not ideal as it is not that close, but it is better than nothing and will hopefully help them both get into a school closer to “home” next year.

Any money donated through Project Purpose to help with N and S will be used for the care of the children and to get N into school with all her supplies.

Updates will also be shared.

1. Attached is a photo of the stationary and supply list which N must come to school with.
2. Warm winter clothes and jackets, especially for S.
3. School uniform for N4. Winter school tracksuit for S (Justin and Melissah have only been able to buy him the basic uniform)
4. Melissah and Justin are still running their little second hand shop as well so pre-loved goods that need a new home will be gladly received – please reach out to Melissah if you have donations in this regard.
5. Melissah has not asked for this – but considering the fact that they’ve taken in 2 extra mouths to feed, we think it would be amazing if she received a few Pick and Pay or Checkers vouchers.
6. If anyone has any contacts in the child welfare department, please let Melissah know or email us. She has exhausted the resources available in Diepsloot and the parents will not cooperate

Melissah’s number is 061 940 6766