INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD CARE IN URBAN SOUTH AFRICA

The story itself was one half of the reminder of this reality. The other half came
from the fact that the girls were relaying this story to us so nonchalantly, unsurprised by
the danger that befell a girl close to their age. “This is a very dangerous area,” the told us.
“But in here, we are safe.” The visitor, most likely the girl’s father, continued to solicit
help when Evan, a security guard at 5Cees came in to tell them he had not seen the girl.
“Have you talked to the principal?” he asked. “I have, but he is not helpful,” responded
the man. “You must make flyers. Hang up signs around town.”
Evan was part of a security team at the center and at all times, this was a significant
concern. In addition to its facilities being protected by locking doors, the center also
employed gates, barbed wire, and an electric fence. The center had somebody monitoring
security 24 hours a day. Evan worked the night shift five days a week, from 6 pm to 6
am, to be replaced by Xolani on Mondays and Tuesdays. During the day, another staff
member, Patrick, also managed security.
Boundary protection is an especially important business in South Africa. Evan
showed me the panic button. If any incident were to occur, the alarm could be pressed
which would send for armed security guards to arrive from ADT, a private security
company, in minutes. He mentioned that it cost R500, or around $40, each time the
button was pressed. I asked him if he’s ever had to press it, and he mentioned that the
guest flats were broken into while they were still under construction. “They took a bunch
of chairs,” Evan told me. “A thousand dollars worth of chairs.”
Unique needs for education
The timing of my visit coincided with the beginning of a new school year for the
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