Minister Fernandez welcomes launch of National Child Protection Week

The Western Cape Minister for Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, welcomes the official launch of the National Child Protection Week, which takes place from Sunday, 29 May to Sunday 5 June 2022.

“As we kick off Child Protection Week, we renew our commitment to protecting our children 365 days of the year. We must remain mindful of the critical role we all have to play in enriching our children's lives.

May this week remind us that more must be done and strategically actioned to keep our children safe and out of harm's way. 

Together, we must speak up for, and protect our children. I would like to remind the public about the various child protection services that are available at the Department of Social Development, NGO sector, and other roleplayers in the child protection system,” added Minister Fernandez.    

These services include:

• A range of programmes and services for children who have been orphaned, abused or neglected, as well as for children showing signs of challenging behaviour, which include safety and risk assessment services; therapeutic and psychosocial services; temporary safe care programmes; adolescent development programmes; developmental 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. 
• Alternative care services including foster care programmes and child and youth care centres
• Adoptions 
• Programmes aimed at reunifying children, who have been placed in alternative care, with their families or communities of origin.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) is grateful to all of the non-governmental organisations, social workers, social auxiliary workers, child and youth care workers at the core of the child protection sector, who continue to help us in our efforts to create a safer province for our children, as well as other key roleplayers in municipal, provincial and national government, civil society, business and labour, disaster management services, universities, the diplomatic corps, the police and criminal justice system, and our families and communities (not least our own).

“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: 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