Child welfare worker highlights key signs of child abuse and how you can help
Eshara Samu from Child Welfare Durban and District offers advice for teachers, neighbours, family members or caregivers who suspect a child is being harmed and who wish to help the child.
EVERY year, Child Protection Month is observed in May to recognise the efforts made by communities and families to bring up this issue in front of the world. During this month, as well as the whole year, people are encouraged to raise the issue of child abuse and the well-being of children and families around the country. It is a month in South Africa in which we raise awareness about the rights of children as enshrined in the constitution.
Ahead of Child Protection Month and to highlight this important issue, Caxton Local Media reached out to local non-profit organisation Child Welfare Durban and District which has been working to protect children since 1999, to find out how to aid in protecting children in South Africa.
According to Eshara Samu from Child Welfare Durban and District, the organisation was constituted on October 1, 1999, as a result of a merger between several organisations. “The Child, Family and Community Care Centre of Durban, founded in 1927, the Durban Child and Family Welfare Society, founded in 1919, and the Umlazi Child and District Child Welfare Society, founded in 1925, were part of this merger.”
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Samu said the mission of the local organisation is to protect, investigate, and provide care to children in need, including those facing neglect, abuse, abandonment and orphanhood and those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS, as well as children living on the street.
Samu said there are various branches across Durban:
- Adoption Services: 20 Clarence Road, Greyville.
- Central Team Social Work Team: 20 Clarence Road, Greyville.
- North Team Social Work Team: 9 Centre Road, Sea Cow Lake.
- West Team Social Work Team: 20 Garbutt Road, Sherwood.
- Wentworth Team Social Work Team: 107/109 David Beare Centre, Austerville.
- Lamontville Team Social Work Team: Servicing the Umlazi and Isipingo areas: 1169 Gwala Road, Lamontville.
The Child Welfare Durban and District representative said that there are several signs that a child will display that may indicate they are being abused. For concerned teachers, family members or neighbours, these are a few to look out for:
- a child being uncomfortable undressing for PE in front of others
- being unable to explain injuries
- acting withdrawn or aggressive
- appearing to be frightened by their caregivers
- reluctance to return home after school
- unexplained bruises or injuries
- being scared, depressed, anxious and withdrawn
- unexplained changes in behaviour and personality
- lacking social skills and having very few friends
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Samu offered some steps that a concerned adult can make to help a child they suspect is being abused:
- Talk in a manner that gains the child’s trust – make enquiries about the health and safety of the child.
- Ensure that the conversation is confidential.
- Encourage the child to talk.
- Provide support and counselling to the child.
- Take the child for a medical at the district surgeon.
- Remove the child from the caregiver and place them in temporary safe care.
- Report to SAPS.
- Initiate a Children’s Court Inquiry.
- Prepare the child for court if there is a court case.
According to Samu, the organisation handles more than 20 000 cases annually and offers various services, such as investigating abuse and neglect, establishing and conducting places of care for children, provision of therapeutic programmes and promoting early childhood development programmes.
For more information, visit the Child Welfare Durban and District website at https://cwdd.org.za/.
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