South Africans are once again confronted with difficult questions around child safety, supervision and neglect following the disappearance of two-year-old Omphile Sethole in Limpopo. The child vanished from her home in Ga-Mabuela village earlier this month, and now her own grandparents have been arrested and charged with child neglect. Experts say neglect is one of the most common — yet
least understood — forms of child abuse because unlike physical violence, its scars are often invisible. But when does poverty and desperation become criminal neglect? And are communities and social services doing enough to protect vulnerable children before tragedy strikes? We unpack the growing crisis of child neglect in South Africa.

South Africans are once again confronted with difficult&nbsp;questions around child safety, supervision and neglect&nbsp;following the disappearance of two-year-old Omphile&nbsp;Sethole in Limpopo. The child vanished from her home in&nbsp;Ga-Mabuela village earlier this month, and now her own&nbsp;grandparents have been arrested and charged with child&nbsp;neglect.&nbsp;Experts say neglect is one of the most common &mdash; yet least understood &mdash; forms of child abuse because unlike&nbsp;physical violence, its scars are often invisible. But when&nbsp;does poverty and desperation become criminal neglect?&nbsp;And are communities and social services doing enough to&nbsp;protect vulnerable children before tragedy strikes? We&nbsp;unpack the growing crisis of child neglect in South Africa.

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope