The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) launched the Provincial Designated Child Protection Organisation Forum on September 3, an important platform aimed at strengthening collaboration, coordination and partnerships among key organisations operating within the children’s sector.

The establishment of the forum is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the child protection system in Gauteng and ensure that children receive quality, coordinated and responsive services from organisations entrusted with their care and protection.

According to acting Deputy Director-General Tebello Mkhonto, the forum will provide a structured platform for stakeholders to engage on child protection matters, strengthen joint efforts in addressing emerging trends and challenges affecting children, facilitate training and capacity building, and promote greater alignment with the department’s vision of ensuring the safety, wellbeing and protection of children across the province.

Speaking at the launch held at Sunnyside Park Hotel in Johannesburg, Mkhonto emphasised that the GDSD has a legislative responsibility to regulate services rendered by designated child protection organisations in line with the provisions of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.

“Our partnership with designated child protection organisations is informed by placing emphasis on the designation of child protection organisations, funding of child protection services, as well as monitoring and quality assuring child protection services,” said Mkhonto.

She said the establishment of this forum would provide an opportunity for the department and its partners to work more closely towards strengthening the delivery of child protection services and addressing challenges affecting the sector.

Director for Child Protection Services, Yvonne Deonarain, highlighted the important role played by designated child protection organisations in the province.

“In Gauteng, the department has a total of 91 designated child protection organisations, which were previously referred to as child welfare organisations.

“Currently, stakeholders within the child protection system do not have sufficient platforms for collaboration, and this fragmentation can result in compromised services being rendered to children in the province,” said Deonarain.

She added that the department recognises the need to strengthen collaboration across the child protection sector and believes that the establishment of the forum represents an important first step towards building a more integrated and effective child protection system.

“GDSD recognises this area of development and, therefore, in an effort to improve collaboration and strengthen partnerships, the Designated Child Protection Organisation Forum will serve as the first step towards strengthening the child protection system in the province,” she said.

In her keynote address, Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, described the establishment of the Provincial Designated Child Protection Organisation Forum as an important milestone in the collective responsibility to protect children and uphold their rights.

“This is an affirmation that protecting children requires a collective approach. Our response must therefore be integrated and coordinated by bringing together all the relevant organs of state,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.

The MEC emphasised that government cannot fulfil its responsibility to protect children in isolation and that meaningful partnerships with civil society organisations and other stakeholders are essential to ensuring that children are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of vulnerability.

She further called on all stakeholders participating in the forum to work together to identify gaps within the child protection system, share best practices and strengthen referral mechanisms to ensure that children and their families receive appropriate services and support.

The forum will also provide an opportunity for designated child protection organisations to raise challenges affecting service delivery, share experiences and develop collaborative solutions that can contribute towards improving outcomes for children across Gauteng.

Following the launch of the Provincial Designated Child Protection Organisation Forum, representatives will be formally nominated in writing by GDSD in the third provincial forum meeting.

Representatives will be required to have the necessary authority, knowledge and capacity to represent their respective organisations, provide meaningful inputs and contributions, and ensure effective communication and implementation of forum resolutions within their organisations.

The department believes that through strengthened collaboration, accountability and shared responsibility, the forum will contribute towards building a more coordinated child protection system that places the safety, rights, dignity and best interests of children at the centre of service delivery.

The establishment of the forum further demonstrates GDSD’s efforts to working with its partners to create safer communities and ensure that every child in the province has access to the protection, care and support they need to grow and thrive.