South African Minor Abandoned in Dubai
Donation protected
This is a letter Goitsimang wrote and sent to authorities in the UAE. She has yet to hear back and receive help from them.
My name is Goitsimang Moshikaro and I am reaching out to you in need of urgent help. I am 17 years old and have been living in Abu Dhabi for the past sixteen years. Since my parents separated about eight years ago, I have been living with my father. On February 24th, my father, Saniel Hlasoe Moshikaro, traveled to South Africa. I write this letter to you because February 24th, 2020 was when my father neglected and abandoned me in the UAE.
It was shortly after that when I realized he had not left me with any money for food, utilities, or basic needs. With that, I did not know that a few weeks from then, global lockdowns were soon to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since his departure, my father had not been in contact with me to ask about my well-being nor financial state. In addition to that, I have had several failed attempts to get a hold of my father while he was out of the country. It was only after a month that he contacted me— On March 23rd, my father texted me to tell me that he was informed by his lawyer that all South Africans are due to leave the UAE and fly back home, this was impossible since both countries were on lockdown and I did not have money to purchase a flight ticket. During our brief conversation, I asked him if he could send me money for food and he said he had no money to do that. My father was not calling or texting to check on my well-being, however, he was sending different men, at random times, to “check up on me”. This terrified me because I did not know these men or their intentions— I began to grow fearful of my safety.
A little to over a month passed (on May 5th) with no communication from my father. I had already begun writing my exams then and our internet got disconnected because of an outstanding bill— that I had asked him to settle months ago. My father said he would try to pay the bill but went the whole day without contacting me and the internet was still off. The most devastating part about this was the fact that schools had started implementing e-learning and everything was being done online. I had to reach out to people I knew and ask if they could help settle the bill for me, they fortunately did. Since I contacted him on May 5th about the internet bill, he has not tried to contact me or send me money for food.
Provided that, I am asking the South African embassy to please help settle my school fees so I can graduate and continue building my future. I would also like to have your assistance in making sure that my father, Mr. Saniel Hlasoe Moshikaro, is held accountable by South African law for neglecting and abandoning me in a foreign country, disregarding my well-being, health, and safety.
We have also created a Facebook fundraiser to reach regions where GoFundMe is banned.
My name is Goitsimang Moshikaro and I am reaching out to you in need of urgent help. I am 17 years old and have been living in Abu Dhabi for the past sixteen years. Since my parents separated about eight years ago, I have been living with my father. On February 24th, my father, Saniel Hlasoe Moshikaro, traveled to South Africa. I write this letter to you because February 24th, 2020 was when my father neglected and abandoned me in the UAE.
It was shortly after that when I realized he had not left me with any money for food, utilities, or basic needs. With that, I did not know that a few weeks from then, global lockdowns were soon to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since his departure, my father had not been in contact with me to ask about my well-being nor financial state. In addition to that, I have had several failed attempts to get a hold of my father while he was out of the country. It was only after a month that he contacted me— On March 23rd, my father texted me to tell me that he was informed by his lawyer that all South Africans are due to leave the UAE and fly back home, this was impossible since both countries were on lockdown and I did not have money to purchase a flight ticket. During our brief conversation, I asked him if he could send me money for food and he said he had no money to do that. My father was not calling or texting to check on my well-being, however, he was sending different men, at random times, to “check up on me”. This terrified me because I did not know these men or their intentions— I began to grow fearful of my safety.
A little to over a month passed (on May 5th) with no communication from my father. I had already begun writing my exams then and our internet got disconnected because of an outstanding bill— that I had asked him to settle months ago. My father said he would try to pay the bill but went the whole day without contacting me and the internet was still off. The most devastating part about this was the fact that schools had started implementing e-learning and everything was being done online. I had to reach out to people I knew and ask if they could help settle the bill for me, they fortunately did. Since I contacted him on May 5th about the internet bill, he has not tried to contact me or send me money for food.
Provided that, I am asking the South African embassy to please help settle my school fees so I can graduate and continue building my future. I would also like to have your assistance in making sure that my father, Mr. Saniel Hlasoe Moshikaro, is held accountable by South African law for neglecting and abandoning me in a foreign country, disregarding my well-being, health, and safety.
We have also created a Facebook fundraiser to reach regions where GoFundMe is banned.
Organizer
Maria Wonderland
Organizer
Port Hope, ON