CHILD NEGLECT AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADDRESSED DURING CHILD PROTECTION AWARENESS IN ETWATWA

By Phetoho Maja

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development and SAPS Benoni held a community awareness event to educate residents on the dangers of child neglect and sexual violence.
• Social Worker Thabisile Shabalala outlined intervention strategies, including foster care and parenting training, to ensure the safety of neglected children.
• SAPS Benoni’s FCS Unit explained their response protocol, highlighting the importance of medical evidence and legal processes to support victims of child sexual abuse.

On Wednesday, the community of Etwatwa responded to the call for action as the Gauteng Department of Social Development (Benoni Office) hosted a Child Protection Awareness event at Tshepo-Themba Community Hall in the Eastern Corridor. The event, held in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Benoni, focused on educating the public about critical issues affecting children, particularly neglect and sexual violence.

Social Worker Thabisile Shabalala addressed the community, shedding light on the issue of child neglect and how the department intervenes when a child is found to be unattended or endangered.

“Many parents leave children locked in the house at night to attend social gatherings. As Social Workers, when we discover that a child is not being properly cared for, we assess the situation within the family, including extended relatives and neighbours,” she explained.

Shabalala further outlined the department’s approach, which includes alternative care options such as foster care, adoption services, parenting skills training, and mediation, all aimed at ensuring the child’s safety and well-being.

Constable Goenetsi Moraba of SAPS Benoni’s Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, spoke on the protocol followed when a case of child sexual abuse is reported.

“The first thing we do is advise the parent not to panic. The child is then taken to a nearby clinic for a medical examination to determine whether a sexual violation has occurred,” said Moraba.

He explained that the findings are documented on a J88 form (medical/legal document used to record injuries sustained by a person, typically in cases of assault, sexual violence, or abuse, which is submitted to the magistrate’s court as part of the evidence) to assess the nature and seriousness of the offence.

Constable Moraba emphasized SAPS’s commitment to treating all cases of child abuse — whether emotional or physical — with the utmost seriousness.

“There are legal ways to discipline a child, but we intervene when a child is harmed or physically assaulted, regardless of who the perpetrator is,” he added.

Throughout the month of May, South Africa observes Child Protection Week, an initiative supported by UNICEF and aimed at raising awareness about children’s rights, as enshrined in the Children’s Act. The campaign promotes the prevention of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children through education and community engagement.