Dozens of children were abandoned on the beaches of Cape Town, South Africa, during New Year’s Eve celebrations that saw partying parents forget their responsibilities — and go home without their children.
“I am battling to understand — how do you lose a child on a beach? And you still go home? It is sad,” tweeted one Cape Town resident with the Twitter handle of WaMputhi, the Los Angeles Times reported. “If I traveled with a child, I will not leave without him/her even if it means no sleep searching.”
An estimated 70 kids were found wandering the beach area and sent to the city’s police stations, the news outlet reported. By Friday, about half had been reunited with parents — but that didn’t stop social media users from erupting in outrage.
Bobby Mbuya from South Africa tweeted: “70 children? What kind of parenting is this?”
Police, overwhelmed by the caretaker duties, sent out messages to the public to collect their kids.
“Police are seeking assistance in locating the parents or guardian of a 3-year-old girl found at Muizenberg beach yesterday,” said police spokesperson Capt. FC Van Wyk, Yahoo News reported.
The spokesperson also added the little girl had been found wandering in her underwear.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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