A trending voice note circulated until it reached the service manager office of department of Social Development during the day on 26 April 2023 reporting about the incidence of child abuse affecting learners/ children attending in attending a preschool in Phongolo KwaZulu-Natal. There is mounting public concern over the extent and severity of child abuse and exploitation of children who are commuted by one of the taxis in Phongolo Municipality. The voice note highlighted that the driver and the conductor of the taxi are using a certain substance to drug children in their taxi and abuse them sexually thereafter, especially on Fridays. It is not easy to determine the extent of the problem because only two children that were referred to our services for counseling on April 26, 2023. The driver of the Taxi was arrested on the same day, 26 April 2023. His first appearance in Court was on 28 April 2023 and the case has been remanded to 9 May 2023. 

The taxi driver was trusted with about 18 preschool children which he transported to schools, the affected children and parents remain in shock by this deed. As a community, we demand no bail for suspects of case number   219/04/2023 as the community and the survivors feel unsafe from the suspect. We further demand a strong sentence.