Child Protection Month in May is a time for the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) to raise awareness about child abuse and preventative measures. MEC Sharna Fernandez emphasizes that children have rights as enshrined in Section 28 of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, which states that every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
Between April 2023 and December 2023, the DSD recorded 2,603 cases of deliberate neglect, 2,801 cases of emotional and physical abuse, and 2,415 cases of sexual abuse, which required the completion of a Form 22 as per the Children’s Act. The DSD staff or Designated Child Protection Organisations step in to protect the wellbeing and dignity of these vulnerable children.
Form 22 is a formal way to report child abuse in any form to the Department of Social Development, the South African Police Service (SAPS), or a designated child protection organization. Fernandez calls for more kind and caring members of society to become safety or foster parents and encourages those who can provide a safe and caring home for vulnerable children.
By the end of March 2024, there were 40,043 children in the foster care system in the Western Cape. If a child has been abused, deliberately neglected, or exploited, they may be placed in foster care following a court order for temporary care and protection until the child is reunited with family.
