South African Children live in a country that has a Constitution with the highest regard for their rights and for the equality and dignity of everyone. Despite the best efforts of the South African Government and civil society to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation, it is a fact that they still remain vulnerable.
To this end as Government is currently embarking on an intensive campaign to raise awareness on the rights of children as articulated in the Children’s Act, we are faced with incidences where children are violently assaulted and stripped from the human rights.
The MEC for Social Development Mr Mxolisa Sokatsha has raised concern about the vigilante approach in which 14 year old Ndzilili Gouws was assaulted and physically abused by his assailants. “The assailants have no right whatsoever to take the law into their own hands,” Sokatsha warned. MEC Sokatsha maintains that their actions have not only physically scarred Gouws for life, but will also have a negative emotional and psychological effect on him. The Department of Social Development will therefore ensure that he receives trauma counselling in order for him to overcome his traumatic experience.
We have launched Child Protection Week on Sunday at the Lerato Place of Safety in Kimberley to raise issues around the protection of children, especially those who find themselves in abject poverty, those who are orphaned, the vulnerable and those living with disabilities. The week long campaign is held under the theme “ Working Together to Protect Children “ – therefore a clarion call is made to all South Africans to play a part in protecting and ensuring the well-being of children.
Government renders various services to assist parents who feel that they are incapable of providing the necessary care for their children, including placing them in alternative care in places of safety or foster care. We therefore appeal to community members and parents to access the services of government and allow us to ensure the safety of your children. As government we are also aware that it is evident that we need to do more to educate and support our parents with children who have problems.
An appeal is made to all parents to accompany their children when taking them to photographers for photos to be taken. They need to be vigilant about the safety of their children and never leave the children alone in the hands of strangers. It is also imperative that as parents we need to advocate our children’s rights, educate and mobilise families, caregivers and communities about their responsibility towards the protection and care of children and encourage their active participation in protecting our children.
We need to make it clear to them know that their bodies are their temples and no one has the right to touch them in any inappropriate manner.
The MEC for Social Development Mr. Mxolisa Sokatsha would like to commend the South African Police Service on their swift reaction with regards to the arrest of Rudolf Coetzee for the allegations of Child Pornography. Mr Coetzee has allegedly violated the rights of the innocent children by taking pornographic photos of them.
The Department of Social Development has arranged for social workers to visit Ndzilili Gouws and the parents of the Charlize Daniels as well as Nhlanhla Mnguni to provide them with professional trauma counselling to assist them with the loss of their loved ones.
