Deputy Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini has urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations providing service to children to adhere to norms and standards of the social development sector.
The Deputy Minister was speaking today during her visit to the Ekujabuleni Children’s Home in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg. She initially visited the home late last year unannounced and was not impressed with the manner in which the centre was managed.
Today, Deputy Minister Dlamini, accompanied by senior government officials, met with the management and board of directors of the home, where she was briefed that the Department of Social Development is working with the Home in a turnaround strategy to improve service delivery.
General Manager for the Department of Social Development, Mrs Nokuthula Khanyile-Gumede, confirmed that over 60 children were removed from the centre as it did not comply with regulations.
Deputy Minister Dlamini urged the management and board of directors to operate the Home in a way that upholds and promotes the rights of children.
In this regard, she said staff at the Home must be trained to ensure that they are better equipped to work with children.
“You must work with children because you are committed to their health and to the promotion of their rights and well-being. Children who come to this kind of homes must never be subjected to secondary abuse,” she said.
The Deputy Minister also met community members who raised their problems regarding social grants, especially the child support grant and foster care grants.
Officials of the Department took the details of the complainants and will ensure that their problems are attended to and ultimately resolved.
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