New Year’s celebrations in the city are often marred by heavy drinking, leading to numerous cases of children being separated from their parents at hotspots such as Eastern Beach.
However, this year marked a significant change: thanks to the Lost Children Project, with only one child reported lost on New Year’s Eve — who was quickly reunited with their family.
The Lost Children Project, an intergovernmental campaign spearheaded by the Eastern Cape department of social development, has been running for more than a decade, and in the past, has reported as many as 50 children separated from their parents over the New Year’s period at our city’s beaches.
This often occurs as a result of parental alcohol abuse, with children not being supervised.
Research has shown that intoxication severely limits a parent’s capacity to supervise and monitor their children.
This leaves children vulnerable to threats to their safety, with some ending up missing for days.
The Buffalo City social development department confirmed that during previous New Year’s celebrations in the city, lost children had to be accommodated at its offices for days after New Year’s until their parents were located.
Establishments such as the Osner Hotel on Eastern Beach have played a crucial role in providing a safe waiting space for children until their parents are found through collaboration between the SAPS, EMS, BCM law enforcement and social development department.
BCM social development district manager, Noluthando Sithole, said the Lost Children Project aimed to tackle this negative consequence of New Year’s revelry, while strengthening the department’s family preservation mandate.
Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said the SAPS had roped in lifeguards as first responders when identifying missing children.
Sithole said: “We were stationed at Eastern Beach from December 16 to ensure visibility and we believe this early start played an important role in deterring irresponsible behaviour from parents.
“[The department], SAPS, BCM law enforcement and local NGO’s and volunteers were stationed 24 hours a day at Eastern Beach from December 31 to January 3.
“This year, there was only one child reported missing, and through the help from the SAPS and BCM law enforcement, the child was found in less than an hour and the child’s family was co-operative and appeared to be sober-minded.
“Aftercare services were administered to the child telephonically by one of our social workers and the parents were focused and compliant.
“In previous years, we used to have children sleeping in our [social development] child and youth care centres.”
Just ahead of New Year’s Eve, Eastern Beach was officially closed by the municipality, citing safety concerns, however, Quigney Ratepayers and Residents Association chair Satish Nair, said thousands flouted this and arrived at the beach, drinking excessively and partying at their cars.
“We saw a huge crowd on what was supposed to be the closed beach and an overflow of alcohol being consumed all along the golden mile to the Orient Theatre,” Nair said.
“This presented a big concern for the safety and wellbeing of children because children were crossing roads and going into restricted areas of the sea unsupervised.”
Nair and ward councilor Funeka Woloshe cited the insufficient ablution facilities, showers, collapsed sidewalks and washed-away beach as serious threats to the safety of children.
Despite Eastern Beach’s closure, children were left to assume responsibility for themselves while their parents were drinking.
Research has also found that parental intoxication leaves children vulnerable to abuse, especially where physical and sexual assault is concerned.
Masimanyane Women’s Rights International has found that incidents of rape and gender-based violence where children are victims, spike during the festive season, which is characterised by severe alcohol abuse.
Parental drinking during the festive season in public spaces such as beaches also increases children’s interface with the culture of alcohol consumption and sends a message about the acceptability of drinking in public spaces.
