Following widespread media reports and societal concerns around Ratlou Local Municipality, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, together with Department of Social Development, Ratlou Local Municipality and South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA), deemed it crucial to commemorate 2017 Child Protection Week within different wards in the local municipality.
The campaign is aimed at making communities aware about the societal challenges that are contributing towards the challenge of teen pregnancy, substance abuse and youth loitering.
The 2017 Child Protection Week kicked off on Friday May 26, 2017 at Mareetsane Village. The community session focused on foster parents and children with the objective of getting both sides of the story concerning both parties.
Among issues raised by children is that some parents do not use their child support grants according to the prescribed need which is to ensure that they get school requirements, food and toiletries among other things.
Johannah Dirulelo (60) from Mareetsane indicated that, making children understand what the child support grants are used for and also befriending them made her to have a good relationship with her foster child. “I am proud to boldly indicate that I have produced a professional nurse, who today is married to a Medical Doctor”, said Dirulelo. Agnes Mosetlo(41) also from Mareetsane, said her approach to raising a foster child which worked for her was to engage and plan together with the child.
“My daughter listens to me, and I also listen to her. She is a qualified paramedic and we are working together so she can find employment and live her dream”, said Mosetlo.
The stakeholder team beat the cold Monday to reach out to Mabule and Tshidilamolomo Villages respectively to educate leaners about services dedicated to children. Social development indicated that children with special needs and challenging background need to be identified and referred to Social Workers to receive specialised assistance.
SASSA emphasised the importance of parents utilising child support grants for their intended purposes. “Educators it is your responsibility to report cases of children that are neglected, whereas government is providing for their needs.
We are obliged to ensure that children live in a secure environment that will make them perform accordingly at schools which will assist in producing responsible and self-sufficient individuals”, said Koketso Koikoi from SASSA.
“As a department, we are committed to ensure that the rights of children are respected as commissioned by legislative prescripts. The department established Children Courts and Sexual Offences Courts to ensure that child victims are not subjected to secondary trauma during testimonies at courts.
We edge parents to report any form of violence levelled against children and not temper with evidence during the time when the offence was committed.
Any piece of evidence is important during investigations as it can assist during trial and successful verdict. The CPW 2017 activities are continuing at Ratlou Local Municipality till Friday where it will be sealed with Blitz Campaign at Setlagole Shopping Complex”, said Thabo Seadira, Regional Spokesperson for North West Department of Justice and Constitutional.
Contact:
Thabo Seadira
Tel: 018 397 7071
Cell: 082 743 7782
E-mail: TSeadira@justice.gov.za
