Crime Africa

SA toddler born to mother arrested for drug trafficking in Senegal repatriated

An emotional moment at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg when a department of social development social worker handed over the child to the Eastern Cape department of social development.
Image: Department of Social Development

A toddler who was growing up in prison in Senegal after her mother’s arrest in Dakar for drug trafficking has been repatriated by the department of social development.

The department said the child, who arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday in the care of a social worker, will be integrated with the mother’s family in the Eastern Cape. The department will continue providing child protection services and support to the family.

“The department will always put the best interest of the child first. However, we remain concerned about the issue of drugs and what it can do to children. This was an unborn baby who ended up in distress in a foreign country because the mother was arrested for trafficking drugs. We cannot stress the importance for young people to make the right decisions about their lives,” said social development minister Lindiwe Zulu.

The department’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant, said the department was notified by the department of international relations and cooperation through its international social services directorate in August that the biological mother of the child had been arrested in February 2023.

“Within days of her incarceration, she gave birth to the child. Due to the mother’s incarceration, the child was considered to be in distress since prison is not a conducive environment for the upbringing of a child. The government of South Africa through Dirco initiated the process of repatriating the child by first visiting the mother to ascertain her wishes about her child,” she said.

Oliphant said the mother nominated the grandmother of the child as guardian in the country while she serves her sentence in Senegal.

“The department is obligated by the Children’s Act of 2005 that a child needs to maintain a connection with their family, extended family, culture or tradition and all decisions must be made in the best interest of the child,” she said.

Oliphant said the department has repatriated 21 other children who were distressed in foreign countries since 2015.

These are the countries and number of affected children:

  • Brazil three
  • Malawi two
  • Mozambique two
  • Zimbabwe seven
  • Ghana one
  • UK one
  • Peru one
  • Mauritius one
  • Canada two
  • Tanzania two.

Source: TimesLIVE

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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