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	Too Many Kids without Guardians Living at Jo’burg Church By Micel Schnehage Eyewitness News November 2, 2009 http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=25345 Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said at the weekend government was extremely concerned about unaccompanied minors and teenagers living at the Central Methodist Church in downtown Johannesburg. Several non-governmental organisations and safe havens have offered to take them in but the church’s custodian Bishop Paul Verryn said they have opted to remain at the place of worship. This has been a bone of contention for months now with minors who have left the facility claiming children are made to believe they will be deported if they leave the church. Recently Eyewitness News revealed allegations of sexual abuse of minors there. Mahlangu, whose social workers have in the past been repeatedly turned away from the facility trying to gain access to the children, said the situation was untenable. "You’re likely to have sexual abuse, you’re likely to have these girls being abused by one generation," said the MEC. Around 3000 destitute foreigners, mostly Zimbabweans, have sought refuge at the church.
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