Minister Fernandez engages Athlone community on Child Protection Services

As we continue to commemorate Child Protection Week, on Wednesday 01 June 2022, the Western Cape Minister for Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, engaged residents from Athlone community in an effort to raise awareness of the basket of child protection services being offered by the Western Cape Government.

Minister Fernandez was joined by a team of social workers from her department, who engaged residents to gain feedback and insight regarding concerns pertaining to child protection services in the Athlone and surrounding area.

Child Protection is one of the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD)’s most important mandates guided by the Children’s Act to ensure all children’s rights are protected, upheld, and their dignity maintained at all times. Child protection remains a complex service area which requires a multi-layered approach as it often intersects with substance abuse, gender-based violence, health, and the legal system.

During her engagement with residents, Minister Fernandez noted the following: “Protecting and honoring the rights of our children is everyone’s responsibility. However, it is a task that government cannot do alone. We need the support of every parent, guardian and community member to play a role in protecting the rights of our children all year round.”

Minister Fernandez also alerted community members that, “When children are vulnerable, abused, neglected, and exploited they are considered to be in need of care and protection. This is where the Department and other designated child protection organisations step in.”

How can communities help protect children?

Child abuse can happen anywhere, and child abusers come from all walks of life. They can be anyone from parents, close family members, teachers, coaches, and family friends. It could be anyone who has access to a child and is in a position to mistreat them.

As a community we must remain vigilant when we suspect abuse. We have had cases where neighbours and extended family members have reached out to the Department to report abuse. These reports have made a difference in the lives of those children.

What are the signs of child abuse?

A child will not always say they’re being abused for of fear of being harmed further. This might be due to the abuser being a close relative or family friend.

So you could look out for physical signs, for example, broken bones, head injuries, bruising and lack of nutrition.

Also, they may notice changes in behaviour, for example, behaving distantly towards friends and family, having obsessions, inappropriate anger, difficulty sleeping, bedwetting or a change in eating habits.

“We need to have a whole of society approach to strengthen our nation’s efforts against child abuse. Together, we must speak up for, and protect our children,” concluded Minister Fernandez.

Contact information:

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: 116; 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