Child porn case: Social workers in spotlight
2010-12-13 13:12
Pretoria - Social workers responsible for placing two children in the care of a couple arrested with six people on a string of child pornograpy charges, are under investigation, the Pretoria News reported on Monday.
The South African Council for Social Service Professionals is investigating social workers from the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad Noord (CMRN) who placed the children in the couple's care.
The newspaper reported that council registrar Iveda Smith had informed the CMRN of the investigation, and that contact details for the social workers, as well as a report into the case had been requested.
The couple and six other family members were arrested on December 2. They have appeared in the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court in a bid to obtain bail.
All have denied any wrongdoing and the foster parents - a 58-year old man and his wife - claim the two children had been abused before they took custody of them.
The man testified in Pretoria North Magistrate's Court that the children's behaviour was so bizarre he had sought help from social services, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.
The council is a statutory body that regulates the social service profession in terms of the Social Service Professions Act.
- SAPA
