Social Development
Since the start of lockdown on 26 March 2020:
What steps is her Department taking after the occurrence of a child murder, especially in vulnerable communities;
whether her Department receives support from the national government in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
- RESPONSE:
Following the announcement of a State of National Disaster on 15 March 2020, the Department issued a Circular dated 25 March 2020 to provide for the continuation of out-of-centre essential child protection services during the period of lockdown. The Uniform Integrated Multi-Agency Referral Pathway Protocol for Child Protection in the Western Cape, norms and standards to the Children’s Act and standard operating procedures were upheld.
The following programmes provide specialised psychosocial support: the Care and Support to Families programme; Child Care and Protection programme; the Victim Empowerment programme; the Substance Abuse programme; the Disability programme, and the Social Relief programme.
Social workers followed up on these matters and where home visits were conducted, precautionary steps had to be taken in the context of COVID-19. Following an assessment, trauma-informed counselling was made available, and the safeguarding of the other children attended to in terms of the provisions of the Children’s Act. Where courts were approached, it was done in terms of the Regulations that were issued by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
The DSD continues working closely with designated child protection organisations and community-based organisations to assist communities and families during this unprecedented time to ensure access to psychosocial support services and relief.
- RESPONSE:
The National Department of Social Development was responsible for issuing Regulations in terms of the Disaster Management Act that prescribes service delivery on the different levels.
The National Child Protection Week took place from Sunday, 31 May to Sunday, 7 June 2020. The theme for this week was “Let us all protect children during COVID-19 and beyond”. The week highlighted the plight of abused children and the Province strengthened the reporting of these cases.
