29 May 2006
The Department of Social Development will be celebrating Child Protection
Week on 29 May 2006 in Kroonstad, Kroon Park at 11h00. The main objective of
Child Protection Week is to raise awareness on issues relating to the abuse of
children in South Africa.
As a build up to this event on the 27 and 28 May, the Department will be
encouraging communities to report all cases of child abuse. The Department
together with South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and structures of
local government will be offering child registration, disability grants, child
support grants, care dependency grants while other stake holders will also be
rendering child care related services at Lesedi Clinic. This will be giving
meaning and effect to the integrated services delivery by the organs of state.
Expected stakeholders are SASSA, Provincial Youth Commission, South Africa
Police Service (SAPS), office of the Premier, Department of Health, Department
of Home Affairs, Moqhaka Municipality, non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
community based organisations (CBOs), faith based organisations (FBOs) and
communities.
The registration will continue up to Monday, 29 May 2006, during an event
where the MEC for Social Development, Ms Zanele Dlungwana, together with Free
State Premier, the honourable Beatrice Marshoff and the Deputy Minister of
Social Development, Dr Jean Benjamin, will be highlighting the rights of
children.
âWe all agree that children are our most treasured assets, yet the most
vulnerable. It is shocking to see how many children are neglected, abused and
exploited in our country and indeed our province,â said MEC Zanele Dlungwana
during her budget vote speech 2006.
The theme for 2006 is âCaring communities protect childrenâ and a green
ribbon, which is a symbol of life, hope, care and protection, is used to
endorse and symbolise the theme. As a sign of commitment to child protection,
communities and all concerned with the plight of children are urged to wear a
green ribbon during Child Protection Week and be actively involved in reporting
all instances of child abuse.
Enquiries:
Mondli Mvambi
Manager Communications
Tel: (051) 4000 204/9
Cell: 083 265 2612
Issued by: Department of Social Development, Free State Provincial
Government
29 May 2006
Source: Free State Provincial Government (http://www.fs.gov.za/)
