Children’s shelter owner to face trial

Children’s shelter owner to face trial

January 23 2012 at 08:25am

By Tania Broughton

Durban North children’s shelter owner Hester Elizabeth van Schalkwyk will face trial later this year on allegations that she ran the home illegally and facilitated illegal adoptions.

It is also likely that she will face further charges of fraud for misrepresenting to prospective adoptive parents that she was legally entitled to do adoptions.

The 60-year-old former owner of Survivors Sanctuary made another brief appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Prosecutor Val Melis advised that by agreement with defence advocate Paul Jorgensen, the case was being adjourned until March, when Van Schalkwyk would be given the detailed charge and statements. A trial date would then be set for the regional court. At a previous court appearance, Melis said the charges would include 17 counts of contravening several sections of the Children’s Act, child trafficking, attempted child trafficking and six counts of fraud.

Van Schalkwyk was arrested after an investigation by M-Net current affairs show Carte Blanche. After her arrest, the children’s home was shut down by the provincial social welfare department and the children were placed in the care of a non-profit organisation. Van Schalkwyk is out on bail of R5 000.

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