The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, has sent her condolences to the family of two children, aged 2 and 7, who burnt to death in their grandmother’s home in Delft, Western Cape, last night.
It is reported that the two children were locked inside the home when it caught fire.
“We send our condolences to the family of the children who died in the fire last night. It is unfortunate for such young lives to be lost in this manner; our thoughts are with the family,” said Minister Dlamini.
The two children die a day before the Department of Social Development launches the 2014 Child Protection Week Campaign in Delft, aimed at promoting the safety, well-being, care and protection of children.
Minister Dlamini said this incident shows that more needs to be done to support families, especially those headed by older persons.
“The report that the children were locked inside the house while the grandmother was away communicates a lack of a support system for both the children and the grandmother. Had a proper family support system been in place, there would have been no need to leave the children locked up and unattended, and they might have probably survived the fire,” Minister Dlamini said.
The Department of Social Development has tabled the White Paper on Families through which it puts forward proposals on how South African families should be supported in order to flourish and function optimally.
The White Paper views the family as a key development imperative and seeks to mainstream family issues into government-wide, policy-making initiatives in order to foster positive family well-being and overall socio-economic development in the country.
Minister Dlamini will visit the family of the deceased children on June 1, to pass her condolences personally.
Enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
