The Past Week - Part 2

So I've not updated the situation with the girls because it has been tenuous this week, and we've been working our asses off! Our court date last Friday was postponed until Monday. On Monday our team showed up at court with our hope and our bears - I must tell you, these children are lucky, they have people fighting for them including a ploice duo who have been committed to making sure these children are not placed in the same environment from whence they came. After many hours the magistrate decided that there was reason to investigate the alleged granny's sisters situation (as she's had a history of being connected with brothels). She remanded the case until Friday (today) giving us and the police only 3 days for the police to investigate and for us to do what we could on our end. Keep in mind that we still haven't been able to get paternity established...I'm still amazed that at this point we've not been able to determine who these children actually belong to, who their parents are.

I wish I could show you pictures of these spirited and beautiful girls and could explain how much they've blossomed since they've been in Bobbi Bear and the foster parent's care! They deserve a chance to be little girls and to have full and rich lives.

This week has been incredibly stressful, I've been on the phone to anyone and everyone who could help us and have been crossing my fingers the whole time. Yesterday, myslef and Mildred (CSO at BB) were taken through to Parliament to have a meeting with the Minister of Social Development. The MP who brought us through and set up the meeting also believes that these children deserve a chance and that we and the children are being let down by social welfare in SA (this is a whole separate message). We discussed both the girls case and another urgent case where social welfare
has been appalling, during our meeting I told the Minister tht we would be in court the next morning and that there was a strong chance that the girls would be placed back in the care of extended family if the police didn't come up with something. The Minister then told us that he'd like to be at court with us and that he was shocked with his social welfare department...of course I was ecstatic (although cautiously so). The MP that brought us thorugh also made a passionate plea in Parliament detailing the two cases, it was amazing to see and Mildred and I gave a big 'high-five' at the end, 'Yes! we made parliament!!!' I was thrilled to let social welfare know that we had met with the Minister and that he was aware of the case and how poorly mishandled - needless to say they crapped their pants a bit :) and, to our surprise, the girls social wroker's manager showed up this morning at court...

This morning, after a somewhat sleepless night I began my morning with some music to get me in the mood and we headed off to court. I had reservations about the minister showing (he didn't), social welfare, who has sided with the alleged granny all along solidified their position today. After a number of hours, the commissioner ruled that the children were to stay with the current foster parents for now (yes!) pending further investigation into the family. The police officers (who might go into withdrawal not hearing from me tomorrow) did an amazing job and have shown great commitment to this case. Wow! I was and still am shocked but over the moon!!! They girls are safe, healthy and happy, for now.

Oh, by the way, I'm staying in South Africa longer :) Work doesn't miss me so got the thumbs up, here until the end of May now.

Signing off, tired and happy,
Molly

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