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Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
SA's alarming child violence rates demand collaboration between government and NGOs
The plan is up against dysfunction within social development departments and fraught relations with NGOs that deliver most services. About 1,100 children were murdered in South Africa in the past financial year, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics. And estimates prepared by detective services suggest that about 1.181 children were victims of attempted murder and 6,209 were seriously assaulted in just the last three-quarters of the 2024/25 financial year. It is clear that South Africa has a serious problem of violence against children. As the country marks national Child Protection Week, those mandated to care for its children should step up. In November 2024, the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children took place in Bogotá, Colombia. South Africa's Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, joined ministers from 102 other countries in pledging an ambitious plan of action to prevent and respond to violence against children. South Africa committed to several actions by 2027. One was to implement evidence-based parenting programmes in 52 districts to ensure safe home environments for children, and reduce child abuse and the use of corporal punishment by parents and caregivers. Another was to implement the 2024 Basic Education Laws Amendment Act by 2027 to improve safety in the learning environment. The law strengthens the ban on corporal punishment in schools and introduces stronger penalties for those using corporal punishment. South Africa also pledged to ensure that psychosocial services are available 24 hours a day to parents and caregivers in distress, and increase the reach of the 365 Days Child Protection Programme of Action for prevention and management of violence against children to 52 districts. It also committed to strengthening the ability of caregivers and frontline workers to reduce and prevent online violence against children. Targets Achieving these targets would help keep children safe and potentially decrease violence overall in South Africa. This is critical because violence against children carries heavy costs for individuals, families and the state. A 2015 study by Save the Children South Africa and the University of Cape Town found that violence against children cost the country R238.58-billion a year, equivalent to 6% of gross domestic product. These are the most recent figures available — and annual costs will only have increased since then. Investing in preventing and reducing violence against children is urgently needed. This would not only save costs, but help increase South Africa's school completion rate, and reduce unemployment and dependency on social grants. Making this pledge a reality is in the interests of all South Africans. It is strongly supported by the many civil society organisations the Department of Social Development would need to work with to implement the programmes the pledge outlines. And herein lies the most significant challenge. The department at a national level and in several provinces has treated non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the people they serve with a lack of respect and compassion, placing many lives at risk. The relationship between the department and civil society is mistrusting and fraught, and must change. At the same time that Tolashe was presenting her plan in Bogotá, the Gauteng Division of the High Court made a third ruling forcing the province's Social Development Department to pay NGOs that it had contracted to provide services. By that point, these NGOs had not received payment to deliver services on behalf of the state for seven months. This is not due to a lack of finances. In the same financial year (2023/4), the Gauteng provincial department underspent its budget by half a billion rand. Essentials The KwaZulu-Natal provincial department has not yet paid its NGO service providers for work done in the first quarter of 2025, leaving organisations unable to cover staff salaries or the costs of essentials, such as food for children. While departmental social workers might help deliver services promised in the pledge, most are already responding to cases of serious child abuse and neglect, and supporting cases through the courts. Without NGOs, the government probably won't be able to deliver on its pledge to prevent and reduce violence against children. There are many positive steps the department could take, including implementing the Sector Funding Policy (SFP). This outlines why services for children are a priority, and lays the basis for multi-year funding for NGOs that provide these vital services on behalf of the state. Funding certainty would help reduce the sector's insecurity and enable relations between the department and its service providers to be repaired. However, Sector Funding Policy implementation is not included in any planning documents, and there are signs that the national department is woefully under-capacitated. One indication of this is its inability to finalise memoranda of understanding with NGOs that offer the department free technical services. Since 2020/21, the national department has not received a clean audit. These examples go beyond isolated glitches. They show recurrent mismanagement, poor planning and a lack of basic operational competence across national and provincial social development departments. The minister needs to accept that the status quo is not working. Strong, capable leadership must be provided to achieve a turnaround, not least by prioritising delivery. For the state to deliver on its bold and important pledge, the minister must focus on repairing the damage caused to the relationships between her department and NGOs. She must also be held accountable for departmental failures that are being compounded daily. The department must ensure that officials deal with families holistically. Currently, it treats each family member's problem separately instead of approaching the family as a complete system. For South Africa to develop, its children must thrive — and that requires providing families with holistic, integrated services. Civil society organisations are ready to do the work required and take hands with the department to achieve the vision of a country that is safe for children. But they can no longer stand by as services to children and families are undermined by the inefficiency and ineptitude of a department that has lost its way. DM Chandré Gould, Senior Research Fellow, Justice and Violence Prevention, Institute for Security Studies (ISS); Gugu Xaba, Executive Director, Save the Children South Africa; Suzan Eriksson, Independent Consultant, Wilmi Dippenaar, Director, South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network; Monica Woodhouse, South African National Child Rights Coalition and Give a Child a Family Africa.
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Dept of Social Development wants SRD grant extended beyond March 2026
CAPE TOWN - The Department of Social Development wants the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to be extended beyond March 2026, despite Treasury's intentions to stop the welfare initiative. The department said this was necessary while it finalised the basic income grant policy, which has been reviewed again by the department, despite frustrations from members of Parliament (MPs). ALSO READ: - Social Development says work on Basic Income Grant policy has been ongoing - Social Development Dept's delays in formulating a Basic Income Grant policy frustrate MPs - Treasury stands firm on unaffordability of continued extension of SRD grant Department officials and Minister Sisisi Tolashe briefed the social development portfolio committee on Wednesday on the progress made in finalising the long-awaited universal grant for all poor South Africans. The basic income grant policy has been in the making for several years and aims to provide monthly financial support to citizens who qualify. The Department of Social Development told Parliament that the policy was still in the making, and it could be a year before legislation on the policy was developed. Deputy Director-General Brenda Sibeko said until such time that the basic income grant policy was finalised, the SRD grant must be extended beyond March 2026. "So, we will also, in the process of doing the legislation, need the SRD grant to continue. So, in that regard, we will ask Treasury again to extend the SRD so that there isn't a break in that income support while the policy process is underway." She said the policy would also link beneficiaries with economic opportunities so that they did not just rely on the basic income grant.
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The South African
23-05-2025
- Health
- The South African
Child abuse, teen pregnancy surge in KZN [video]
In the first quarter of 2025, KwaZulu-Natal recorded 3 653 cases of child abuse and neglect. The Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, warned that the province is also struggling with high rates of teenage pregnancy. 'Umkhanyakude District Municipality is one of municipalities that are still battling with teenage pregnancy with a record of 11 deliveries for children between 10 – 14 years', said DSD spokesperson, Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane. She said the statistics were recorded between January to March 2025. According to Xulu-Lentsoane, 741 children between the ages of 15 and 19-years-old gave birth in KZN during the same period. Read the full version of the ' Minister flags staggering child abuse stats in KZN' article. Since the beginning of May, Minister Tolashe has been visiting various parts of the country to raise awareness about Child Protection Month. Today, 23 May 2025, she is taking the campaign to a town bordering eSwatini, Manguzi in KwaZulu-Natal. 'The Minister is the champion of the District Development Model and will be raising awareness on the plight of children in that area. While bringing all services of the department and its agencies, the South African Social Security Agency and the National Development Agency', said Xulu-Lentsoane Looking for quick updates? Watch News in a Minute videos on The South African's YouTube page for all the key stories you need to know! Catch all the latest videos on news, lifestyle, travel, sports and more – there's always something to watch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky to stay connected and get your news on the go!
The South African
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Celebrating International Day for Families
15 May 2025 is recognised globally as International Day for Families. The Minister of the Department of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, is in Cape Town to commemorate the day. She is expected to also promote Child Protection Month, which falls in May. Spokesperson for DSD, Lumka Oliphant, said the program today aims to bring a focus on the importance of families. She stressed that families serve as the first line of defence in the protection of children. Oliphant said, 'Child protection is a shared responsibility. Parents, caregivers and the entire community play an important role and can contribute to creating a safe environment for children'. Minister Tolashe is also expected to launch the Revised White Paper on Families and the Families Matter Programme, which highlights the care and protection of children. The first White Paper was introduced in June 2013, after DSD realised that there was a dire need to promote the strengthening of families in South Africa. It was also proposed to provide support to existing families. Oliphant said this year's commemoration seeks to highlight the importance of supporting and strengthening families. DSD has centered the day around the theme, 'Family-oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025'. 'The UN Convention on Rights of the Child clearly states the role of the family towards child protection and it further mandates government to step in, if families are unable to do so', said Oliphant. 'Current family-centered interventions such as positive parenting, family matter, and the social assistance programmes seek to ensure that families have the necessary resources and support that protect children and strengthen families', Oliphant continued. UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence Against Children, Dr Najat Maalla M'jid, is currently in South Africa. Her visit coincides with Child Protection Month. Dr M'jid is here to monitor progress on South Africa's programs to end violence against children. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
12-05-2025
- Eyewitness News
Tolashe appalled by stats of child abuse released in 2024/2025 financial year
JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe said the statistics of child abuse released in the 2024/2025 financial year are appalling. Tolashe sounded the alarm while speaking at the launch of a campaign geared towards Child Protection Month in Free State on Sunday. ALSO READ: DSD says fight against child trafficking, abuse must start at home The department will be running different campaigns to address challenges faced by children, including abuse, exploitation, and child trafficking. The recorded figures stand at around 26,000 in that single reporting period. Tolashe said violence has a long-lasting effect on the psychology of children. 'The situation is bad, as we said earlier on, we are articulating statistics where these cases are being reported. Remember, our people are not convinced that these cases should be reported.'
