Aids village under investigation
Village allegedly not co-operating with authorities.
Although often praised for the good work being done there, stubborn rumours of irregularities at Sparrow Rainbow Aids Village have persisted over the years.
The Department of Social Development has decided to act and lead an investigation into allegations, mainly stemming from staff members concerning sexual and physical abuse, substance abuse, the pregnancy of a minor and other irregularities. The department also has decided to remove 160 children from the village and place them with government-owned institutions, non-government organisations (NGOs) and foster parents, says the department’s spokesperson Sello Mokoena.
Mokoena says the department could not look the other way if there is a possibility that children are in danger.
Staff members allege that the most recent case is of a 13-year-old HIV positive girl that was impregnated by her 15-year-old boyfriend on the premises. In a petition by the staff to the department recently they also allege that “teenagers had become pregnant, sniffed benzene, cultivated dagga on the premises, stole, and were guilty of vandalism and arson”. They also blame founder Reverend Corine McClintock’s “autocratic” style of management for the problems and allege she did not want to report the incidents to the authorities.
Mokoena also says the department is not receiving cooperation from the village and finds it odd that on occasion when social workers were sent there they were refused entry on the basis that they did not have an appointment; something Mokoena says does not apply to social workers.
The record made various attempts to get comment from Sparrow. Steve Pote from the village said the employees were not allowed to comment, and referred the record to the board members. The record in fact attempted to contact board member Nicholas Nkosi but his number went straight to voicemail. An attempt to wait for McClintock at the village also had to be abandoned after an hour with staff saying she was not returning that day. Another member of the board also could not be reached for comment.
