The saga of Geraldine

Have just had a phone call from Frances informing me of the latest saga regarding our darling little Geraldine.

Those of you that know her and the story behind her, you will know that she was, under instruction of the courts returned to the social workers in Grabouw. Briefly, Geraldine was found along the N2 Freeway in Grabouw when she was one and half, abandoned, as her mother was too drunk to know she was missing. She has since then lived in safe care and had absolutely no contact with her mother, yet she was instructed by the courts to be returned to her mother, who she did not know from a bar of soap - what kind of system is that and how traumatic is that for a small child?

Today we find out that the social worker in Grabouw, with whom she was dropped off with (A) took Geraldine that same Friday afternoon to another social worker (B) in Villiersdorp and told her that some women she didn't know had arrived on her 'stoep' and just dumped Geraldine there. Social Worker B having no choice but to take the child, had to lock up her office and drive to the farm 'xxxxx' to locate Geraldine's mother and hand her over. Before she left, she called the farm manager who had no knowledge of the mother and claimed he did not know if she worked there. Social Worker B then drove out to the farm and eventually found a relation who turns out to be receiving a disability benefit and caring for 2 kids, one of which was Geraldine's sister. When asked where the mother was, was told she is out working. Social Worker B then left Geraldine with the Aunt and went in search of the mother. When she found her and told her she was here to hand over her child, the mother asked 'which one' she apparently has a further 2 babies also in Foster care, both younger than Geraldine, who is only 3 in October . . .

Apparently the mother, when told it was Geraldine, then said she would have to stay with the Aunt till she was finished working . . . . . . Clearly proving that the mother had no knowledge Geraldine was coming - makes you wonder how the Social Worker A did her home visits to check the mother had a job and place for her to stay, if she didn't know she was coming.

According to Social Worker B, she was wondering why Geraldine had been brought back to her mother, she could see she was well cared for, had good manners, toothbrush, cream and decent clothes. Since the Social Worker couldn't initially find the mother, she even considered taking Geraldine home to her house for safe keeping. How I ask you can the system screw up so royally, potentially taking her from one place of safety to another?

It breaks my heart, a couple of us have been waking up during the night thinking about her, I just hope and pray that she is OK and that the farm community are accepting her and not treating her as a kid who thinks she is above her station in life.

Frances plans to get onto the welfare department tomorrow to follow this up as we NEED to know what is going on.

There is that saying, if you love something, set it free, if it comes back to you it is yours for keeps. Geraldine really has touched so many of our hearts and she belongs in our community, not picking apples and drinking wine.