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a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Khalid Sayed praises appointment of Sarah Helena Roberts as Children's Commissioner
The appointment of Sarah Helena Roberts as the new Commissioner for Children for the Western Cape has been welcomed. The role was created to advocate for and protect the rights of children in the province, carries a five-year term and is renewable once. The leader of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Provincial Legislature, Khalid Sayed, commended the Caucus of the 6th Administration for working collaboratively along political lines to implement the Western Cape Constitution by ensuring this position was not just an idea on paper but a functioning mechanism to protect the rights of children. 'I must commend our Standing Committee Chairperson for the non-partisan manner in which she led the process, ensuring that we could agree on one candidate in the end. We trust that this appointment will build on the important foundation laid and that it will not be reduced to a mere tick-box exercise. The role of the Commissioner must be one of active advocacy, visible leadership, and fearless defence of children's rights,' Sayed said.
IOL News
07-08-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Western Cape recommends Sarah Helena Roberts as Commissioner for Children
The process of appointing a Child Commissioner is in its final stages Image: File The long-awaited appointment of a Western Cape Commissioner for Children has entered its final phase after the Standing Committee on Social Development officially recommended Sarah Helena Roberts for the role. If appointed, Roberts, who is a advocate and acting magistrate at the Kuilsriver/ Blue Downs Children's Court, will become only the second person to hold the post since the Act was passed more than five years ago, after years of delays and public concern over the province's handling of the selection process. According to the Western Cape Commissioner for Children Act, 2019, the Premier now has 21 days to either confirm the appointment or refer the matter back to the Provincial Parliament for further consideration. The recommendation was made during a committee meeting held on 6 August, under Section 2(1)(2)(e) of the Act, which outlines the process for selecting the Commissioner. The role, created to advocate for and protect the rights of children in the province, carries a five-year term, renewable once. While the Premier is responsible for the final appointment, the legislation ensures that the Provincial Parliament plays a significant role including the adoption of recommendations by a standing committee following interviews and deliberations. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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The chairperson of the Standing Committee on the Premier and Constitutional Matters, Benedicta van Minnen explained further: 'The Commissioner for Children is a position created by the Western Cape Constitution and it operates independently from the Western Cape Government. It is therefore up to the commissioner to act independently of any political pressure and in line with the legislation on the role of the Commissioner for Children. 'The Commissioner for Children is an independent body that reports to the Provincial Parliament on its activities, functions, and progress towards its objectives. This role is crucial for ensuring that the rights, needs, and interests of children are considered and protected within the Western Cape. 'The Act also details the Commissioner's mandate, which includes monitoring the impact of government services on children, investigating complaints about government services, educating the public, advising government, lobbying decision-makers, researching policy and practice, and engaging with children to understand their perspectives.' The list of nine shortlisted candidates for the post has also been made available, these include: Denlia Diana Leppan, Deon Ruiters, Louw Samuel Schoeman, Marquin Enrico Smith, Mfundo Nomvungu, Patricia Martin-Weisner, Sixolile Ngcobo, Rochelle Philander and Roberts who is the recommended candidate. Van Minnen said the incoming Commissioner should meet the legislative requirements for the job which includes the requirements of education and experience. 'The recommended candidate is a highly experienced person who has a history of acting in the best interests of children.' However civil society leaders and child rights activists believe the appointment is more than just filling a vacant post, with academics. They are calling on the appointment to prioritise urgency, independence, and lived experience over bureaucracy and paper qualifications. Ilitha Labantu, a longstanding voice for women and children's rights in the province,spokesperson Siya Monakali said the organisation is deeply concerned by the ongoing delay surrounding the appointment of the Western Cape Child Commissioner. 'This is not just an administrative failure but a reflection of the province's disregard for the urgency of the crisis facing children. 'The Commissioner's role is not ceremonial. It is a vital position tasked with holding the state accountable, amplifying the voices of children, investigating rights violations, and ensuring that policies and services reflect the realities children face. 'The fact that the appointment process continues to drag on, is a betrayal of that mandate. We cannot speak of children's rights in the abstract while failing to operationalise the very mechanisms designed to protect them.' At the heart of the growing public frustration is concern that qualifications alone may be used to gatekeep the position, shutting out those who have done the hard work of advocacy and protection on the ground. Monakali said the ideal candidate must have a clear and consistent track record in child rights advocacy, public accountability, and community engagement. 'This is not a role for someone with only academic credentials but no connection to the lived struggles of children in our communities,' he stated. 'While formal education can strengthen one's ability to navigate policy and law, it cannot replace the value of lived experience and community trust. A university degree should not be used to exclude powerful community voices. What matters most is the ability to act with urgency, insight, and a deep-rooted commitment to justice for children.' While the organisation has not publicly endorsed a candidate, it made its expectations clear: 'We are looking for someone who is principled, grounded, and capable of operating both at the level of policy and in direct engagement with communities. Someone who carries both credibility and courage. We will not support a Commissioner who occupies the position in name only. This role demands more than visibility. It demands action. Veranique 'Benji' Williams, Founder of Faith and Hope Missing Persons and a Cape Town activist who works directly with affected children and families, echoed this view passionately. 'It's okay to get someone with degrees but make sure these people work on the ground with our mothers, fathers, children,' she said. 'That is why the child commissioner is there – to change the lives of children. Change the education lane, bring in the religious beliefs – praying. If you teach a child to pray, it's the strongest weapon in belief, we are fighting a spiritual battle.' She stressed the need for more skills-based education and stronger interventions on missing children: 'Bring back skills like needle work, wood work, they need skills, it's not just academic, it's using your hands. One thing I have been calling on is a dedicated missing children's unit.' 'The commissioner has to be able to be a 12-year-old when he or she is working with [them],' she added. 'The sad reality is, people take on such big roles just for the money, they don't have the passion. 'If you do it with the good heart that money in that bank account won't be a problem, you will make use of what you have, you will make it stretch, you will make it work. I hope and pray that the right decisions are made for our children, because they need it.' Western Cape MEC for Policing Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, said while her department is not responsible for the appointment, she also agreed that qualifications must be balanced with credibility on the ground. 'The Standing Committee on the Premier has the legislative mandate to oversee the recruitment process,' she said. 'To my knowledge, the process is transparent, inclusive and has been prioritised. I believe that a formal qualification plays an important role but am also of the opinion that lived experience and community credibility is equally important.' She noted that the Commissioner must address pressing issues such as gang violence, substance abuse, trauma, and educational neglect. 'In my view, the Children's Commissioner should be at the forefront of creating an enabling environment in which children have the support to become the best versions of themselves. This requires collaboration with all government departments to ensure children benefit from all the services available and that these departments work together to address the realities faced by children.' Weekend Argus
