Pretoria child helplines continue to operate during lockdown
“We are receiving hundreds of calls and cases of abuse happening in and around Pretoria and Centurion.”
The Centurion and Pretoria child helplines are open and can be called at any time during the lockdown.
This according to founder and Toys for Africa Director Danie van Loggerenberg, who launched the Centurion child helpline in September last year.
“Even during the lockdown, parents and children can report abuse by calling the numbers 071-192-0569 or 060-808-2261,” said Van Loggerenberg.
“We are receiving hundreds of calls and cases of abuse happening in and around Pretoria and Centurion.”
One such case started at the end of February.
“We were contacted about a 17-year-old girl staying in the west of Pretoria,” said Van Loggerenberg.
“The girl had an 11-month-old baby with her boyfriend and was being kept at her boyfriend’s parents’ home as punishment for falling pregnant.
“The mother was literally kept chained up on the premises.
“Working with a resident of Rooihuiskraal, who reported the case, we were able to get both the young mother and child to safety.”
Van Loggerenberg told of a separate unrelated incident whereby a 14-year-old girl contacted the helpline, scared for her and her siblings because their drunken father and his friends were threatening them.
“We are busy with another investigation with police in Centurion but I cannot disclose the details at this time.”
Van Loggerenberg said it was vital that such cases be reported especially during the lockdown period.
“At this stage, all calls to the helplines will be answered by myself and while I cannot provide advice I can put complainants in touch with the correct people.
“Calls to the number will thus be handled like SMS’s and WhatsApp messages we have received in the past.
“I am asking callers to bear with me in this time, their calls will be attended to.”
Van Loggerenberg said plans to make helplines available for specific areas in Pretoria would continue but only later in the year.
“We are busy working on a music video to raise awareness on bullying in schools which will also be launched soon.”
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