As we mark the beginning of the national Child Protection Week, the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) will continue to play a leading role in ensuring this province fosters an enabling and nurturing environment for children.
DSD prioritises the welfare and safety of children as guided by the Children’s Act, and the prescripts of the Child Justice Act.
In this regard we have allocated R605.549-million, the second largest portion of our 2015/16 budget, to the Children and Families Programme.
The department has placed great emphasis on supporting families, extending opportunities to children, and providing quality statutory services.
DSD has allocated just over R294-million for registered ECD centres, to provide a safe developmental space for children during the day. Our efforts to improve the standards and skills within the ECD sector have already begun to bear fruit. The programmes of 27 ECD organisations have been registered and are thus compliant with the Children’s Act, allowing them to train practitioners working in our funded ECD facilities.
To support the expansion of opportunity to children, DSD supports the Mass Opportunity and Development Centres (MOD centres) by providing nutritious meals to participating learners. With a budget of R80.3-million, we provide meals to an ever increasing number of 101 schools participating in the MOD centre programme.
To honour our commitments to protecting children at risk and young offenders, the DSD has established a network of world-class Child & Youth Care Centres (CYCC). The department has implemented norms and standards at CYCCs, and have proven to be in line with global best-practice.
As we commemorate national Child Protection Week, DSD will continue to translate our efficient budgetary spending and good governance, into meaningful programmes and services for children. However government cannot do this alone. Parents continue to play the greatest role in this regard, and we continue to call on adults to take responsibility for the safety and well-being of our children. The public must report any cases of child abandonment, neglect and missing children to any of our Regional Offices, or to contact our DSD Hotline on 0800 220 250. We can protect our children if we continue to work ‘Better Together’.
Enquiries:
Sihle Ngobese
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 083 307 0192
Email : Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za
