INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD CARE IN URBAN SOUTH AFRICA

themselves. It was through them that I was able to understand how such events are
actively processed shortly after they occur. Getting the youngest children, aged from five
to seven, to open up was challenging for a number of reasons, including limited attention
spans, narrow vocabularies, and general restlessness are all challenges that are common
with that age. In the experiences of the children at 5Cees, there was an extra degree of
sensitivity regarding their traumas. In addition, these children had also developed an
extremely playful relationship with me, which made it difficult for a focused, serious
conversation to take place. It was in these situations that my visual methods proved to be
the most useful, allowing me to channel my questions into an interactive, physical
activity.
Life Before the Center
One individual I gained a lot of insight from was Xolani, a security guard at the
center, although his role was much more fluid than his job title would indicate. Xolani
was within a year or two of my own age, which made for very natural conversations
about his current work and upbringing. Xolani had received care from 5Cees for a portion
of his childhood, giving him the perspective of both a staff member and resident.
In the course of our conversation, Xolani cited the death of his mother as the
inciting event that led to him moving around very frequently. Although he remained in
contact with his father up to the present, caretaking responsibilities following his
mother’s death were passed among a variety of relatives, as well as 5Cees. When I asked
him where he had lived, he listed a number of places including Hillbrow, Berea, Fine
Town, Thembisa, and the Eastern Cape region of South Africa.
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