South African police have confirmed to the BBC that they are investigating a possible syndicate that has been hiring out children from creches to beggars. It follows a general crackdown on the use of children to beg in the capital, Pretoria. Twenty children were taken into care after an operation on Friday; 13 have since been returned to their families. Police said they wanted to see if it was linked to a similar case reported in Johannesburg in May. An investigation by Johannesburg’s 702 Talk Radio found that some parents and child-minders were renting out babies to beggars for about 20 rand (about $3; £2) a day. Begging is common at busy intersections in towns and cities across South Africa. The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg says beggars carry babies or use children to garner sympathy and larger donations from motorists. Police in Pretoria said that seven of the children still in protective custody were babies under the age of one.  (BBC NEWS)