Lost boys still unclaimed

TWO boys, one aged nine and the other five, who were found wandering in the streets of Windhoek between Khomasdal and Otjomuise last weekend, are still in the custody of social workers.

!Gabe and Ronny, who are still at a shelter in Windhoek, were found on 18 March, and taken to the Gender-based Violence Protection Unit at Katutura Intermediate Hospital. A senior social worker at the unit, Charlene Uakuramenua, yesterday said following an announcement in The Namibian on Tuesday, the people who came to see the boys had no documents to prove any relationship.

!Gabe, who spoke through an interpreter, said they live with his father in Khomasdal, Windhoek, but added that he does not know his father’s name.

He said they were walking from Khomasdal to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital to visit their mother, who is in hospital nursing a younger brother.

According to !Gabe, they lost their way to the hospital because they only went there once in the company of their father.

Ronny, !Gabe said, is not related to him, although he lives with their family.

Uakuramenua said although the boys have been lost for over a week, sometimes parents are not aware that their children are missing because they would think they are with one or other relative.

“Do not assume where your child is. Know where they are, even when they are gone for 30 minutes. Teach the children their parents’ names when they are able to speak,” Uakuramenua advised.

Anyone who claims to be the parents or relative of the children is expected to provide the children’s birth certificates, in addition to their identity documents, in certain cases. The Gender-based Violence Protection Unit is still investigating the matter.