Child Protection

Each day, social workers across the province receive reports of the abuse of children. Where children are in immediate danger, social workers must get safeguard them by removing them from their homes – regardless of the time of day.

While there is an ongoing drive to recruit safety parents who take these children into their homes, the nature and immediacy of these emergencies means that safety parents may need some time to prepare for the arrival of a child. In these cases, particularly after hours, children – including infants – must often wait at police stations or hospitals with social workers until they are placed into the care of a safety parent. Even though they will have been taken out of a dangerous situation, many children may still feel traumatised and may not understand what has happened.

A 24-hour temporary safe care house is needed in the Cape metropole for emergency placements, to provide an immediate sanctuary for children where they can feel safe and secure in a comfortable and child-friendly environment while they await further placement.

Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCC) are among the facilities that serve as a temporary safety net for children who are removed from their homes. Once placed in a CYCC by the court, they can receive a range of services to help them heal, feel safe, and have their dignity restored.

There is currently no such centre in the Central Karoo.

This means that vulnerable children, who are already facing trauma, must be relocated far from their homes, further disrupting their connection to family and community.

The Cape Care Fund supports the establishment of a CYCC in the Central Karoo. The facility would provide safe, structured, and nurturing residential care for boys and girls from the surrounding areas. It will play a vital role in reintegration and reunification efforts by serving children within their own geographical region, and keeping them connected to their communities and families.