DEAR Editor,-
AS South Africa marks Child Protection Week, it is time to move beyond mere words and take concrete action. In the past, Child Protection Week has seen numerous promises from the Department of Social Development. In a 2014 report, Childline named KZN the province with the highest incidence of child abuse. Two years later and the rate of abuse and neglect continues to increase within our province.
One of government’s most important weapons in tackling child abuse is social workers themselves. Yet here in KZN we face a desperate conundrum. Despite a chronic shortage of social workers, some 3 000 graduates are sitting at home unemployed. The department has claimed that this is due to budget constraints. The reality is the shocking mismanagement of such funds.
The consequence is that KZN’s social workers are completely bogged down – in some instances an individual social worker is handling close to 500 cases. Add to this increased pressure on non-governmental organisations, such as Child Welfare, to handle some departmental child protection services and the situation becomes disastrous.
What this sad state of affairs tells us is a lack of commitment by the current ANC government to budget properly for child protection. The tragic end result is more vulnerable children falling through the cracks and suffering gross violations of abuse and neglect.
And then there are the other challenges facing our communities, such as a breakdown in social fabric, an upsurge in drug abuse, high unemployment levels and hopelessness. These form a recipe for massive frustration and anger among adults which sometimes finds its outlet in the abuse of children. This mindset must be condemned to the fullest.
On August 3, communities and individuals will have their chance to release their frustrations against the failing ANC government. Their best outlet is to vote for a DA government – one that is committed to improving communities and in particular the lives of our children. Our children are our nation’s future. We must ensure that they are protected and have all the opportunities to be the best they can be.
DR RISHIGEN VIRANNA, MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Social Development
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