Child Protection Week – 365 Days Of Activism

The Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, welcomes the official launch of the National Child Protection Week, which takes place from Sunday, 31 May to Sunday, 7 June 2020. 

Minister Fernandez said: “While I welcome the official launch of the National Child Protection Week – the protection of our children should not be limited to particular times or campaigns. As we enter this new week, let’s remember all of our children in need of protection 365 days of the year, especially amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Minister Fernandez added: “With the easing of the Covid19 restrictions from alert level 4 to alert level 3, and the ban on the sale of alcohol soon being lifted, I wish to urge all of our residents to be extra vigilant of every child’s safety. The protection and welfare of children is a collective responsibility, even when the child is not your own.”

We would like to remind the public that the Department’s child protection services are available during the lockdown. These services include:

• A range of programmes and services for children showing signs of risky behaviour, which include safety and risk assessment services; therapeutic and psychosocial services; temporary safe care programmes; adolescent development programmes; programmes for children with behavioural, psychological and emotional challenges; transitional care and support programmes for children about to exit alternative care; and programmes for children living on the streets. 

• Statutory services including foster care programmes and adoption programmes. 

• Programmes aimed at reunifying children, who have been placed in alternative care, with their families or communities of origin.

Vote of thanks to NPO partners, Child Protection Workers, Child Protection Sector, Civil Society and Partners:

The provincial department of Social Development is thankful to all of our Non-Profit Organisation (NPOs), Child Protection Workers (CPWs) and other key partners in the child protection sector, who continue to help us in our fight to create a safer province for our children. These partners include; other spheres of government, civil society, business and labour, disaster management services, universities, the diplomatic corps, families (not least our own), the police and criminal justice system. 

Only a whole of society approach, through the efforts of all spheres of society, can put a stop to the acts of violence being witnessed by our children.

I would like to urge everyone to continue helping us in our fight against child abuse and neglect.

It takes a community to raise a child. Let’s unite to protect our children!

#YourChildIsMyChild

Contact information and support:

The fight against child abuse requires the help and support of everyone in the province. If you suspect a child is being abused, neglected or exposed to violence, we urge you to report it to the following channels:

• Calling the Western Cape Department of Social Development toll free: 0800 220 250
• Calling the SAPs crime stop hotline: 10111
• Calling Childline: 0861 322 322; or 
• Calling Child Welfare SA: 0861 424 453

For more information about our other services, please refer to the Western Cape Department’s website on the link below:

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/social-development