How can parents do this? My mind boggles!

Parents 'left' teen in Bahrain
23/07/2007 08:56 - (SA)

Erika Gibson, Beeld

Johannesburg - A good Samaritan from South Africa who is working in Bahrain will see to it that a stranded 18-year-old South African teenager gets home.

Donovan Kruger from Secunda, a Grade 12 pupil, has been stranded in this Middle East country after his father and stepmother allegedly left him there.

According to foreign affairs spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota the department heard about the incident only when the Samaritan called the department.

Donovan travelled in Bahrain with his parents in September last year while his father was apparently working in Saudi Arabia. His visa was valid for only 72 hours, reported the Gulf Daily News.

The family wanted to return to South Africa on June 21, but the immigration officials didn't want Donovan to leave the country as his visa had already expired. He first had to pay a fine of R3 645, which his father didn't have.

Parents can't be located

The couple left him with R450 and the clothes he was wearing and told him to go back the place they had been staying to see if somebody would provide accommodation for him while they tried to solve the problem.

Donovan's biological mother was not aware of the situation.

Donovan asked for help at an organisation that took care of migrant workers. The fine for the expired visa has since accumulated to R5 400.

According to Kota an official at this organisation dropped him off at the Samaritan, who wanted to remain anonymous. This man is well-known businessman among South Africans in this area.

According to Kota the Samaritan agreed to buy Kruger a flight ticket home, while the organisation's officials were trying to quash the fine.

"We are trying to get the child back into South Africa and will then see if we need to call in social services."

Donovan's parents could not be located.

According to Kota it was also not known when the teenager would return to South Africa.