Essay On Street Children In South Africa

that the first real mention is made of street children. Peacock (1994) refers to Agnelli (1986) who states that during the year 1212 the first nomadic children were noticed in the rural areas of Europe. However, eventually many of them were captured and sold off as slaves.

1.3.2. The Industrial Revolution

There were numerous destitute children during the Industrial Revolution who were either orphaned or abandoned and had no place to live. These children of the 19th century lived a rough life. During the day they wandered through the London East End alleyways begging from strangers. They were always in danger of exploitation by professional criminals. If begging did not work, then stealing food from market stallholders was their only alternative to finding food. None went to school or had an adult to care for them. These were the forgotten boys and girls of 19th Century England. One question that is unclear to us at this time is just who these children were and why they were not taken into care in work houses and orphanages. Apparently institutionalisation was not mandatory, but this

Street children are simply described as the victims of the former policy of apartheid. Ross illustrates her statement as follows: "The vast majority of an estimated 9,000 street children in South Africa are black. There are virtually no white street children in South Africa, but there are 10,000 white children in 160 state-registered and subsidised children 's homes. In contrast, there are no state- administered children 's homes for African children in the urban areas. The 12 existing private homes accommodate just under 1,000 African children. Although the existing 11 places of safety for African children can accommodate 1,400 children, only 700 children were harboured there during