A two-year-old girl named Hlelo was shockingly abandoned in the Verulam Central Business District (CBD) in KwaZulu-Natal after her mother left her in the care of strangers to attend lobola negotiations with her new partner. The incident has sparked outrage and concern, especially after the mother went completely unreachable days after promising to return.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the child was brought to their headquarters by two concerned street vendors on Saturday, August 2, 2025. The vendors shared that the mother, only known as Sne, had left the little girl with them the previous day, Friday afternoon.
Sne, whose surname remains unknown, was familiar to the vendors as she often interacted with them while shopping in the Verulam CBD. On that particular Friday, she arrived with an unidentified man and asked the vendors to look after her child for a short while. Believing she would return shortly, they agreed.
However, as the day progressed and the vendors prepared to close their stall, Sne was nowhere to be found. Concerned, they called her using the number she had provided. Sne answered and casually informed them that she was heading to Hluhluwe in Northern KwaZulu-Natal with her boyfriend to negotiate lobola (bride price) and that she would collect the child later.
Despite reassurances, the vendors grew more uneasy when, on the following day, Sne again failed to return. When they contacted her again, she said she was now in Mhlabayalingana, another town in KZN, and again promised to return soon. That was the last contact they had with her. Her phone has since been switched off, and all efforts to reach her have been unsuccessful.
The vendors expressed their growing distress over the situation. While they had initially tried to help out of compassion, they admitted they could not continue caring for the child indefinitely, especially as they had minimal information about Sne’s identity or background. The mother had only left a few items — an apple, a banana, and a packet of chips — for the child’s nourishment.
The incident has highlighted broader concerns around child welfare and the legal consequences of child abandonment. Authorities are now investigating the case to track down Sne and ensure the safety and well-being of little Hlelo. It remains unclear whether Sne will face criminal charges, but child protection services are expected to intervene.
Cases of child neglect and abandonment have sadly become increasingly common in various parts of South Africa, often leaving communities and authorities scrambling to respond.
Anyone with information about the mother’s whereabouts is urged to contact local authorities or RUSA to help reunite the child with her family or ensure she is placed in a safe and supportive environment.
This heartbreaking situation is a stark reminder of the importance of responsible parenting and the dire consequences that arise when vulnerable children are left without proper care.
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