ENHANCING CHILD PROTECTION: CALLS FOR GREATER ACCESSIBILITY TO CHILD PROTECTION REGISTER

By Cuma Pantshwa
- Delegates at the review of the Integrated Justice System programme urged making the Child Protection Register (CPR) more accessible to all South Africans and the South African Police Service for preliminary checks on individuals’ suitability to work with children.
- The CPR, which includes 12,596 names of individuals unsuitable to work with children, helps in safeguarding children by maintaining records of abuse, neglect, and court findings.
- While increased accessibility aims to protect children, compliance with laws like POPIA and the Children’s Act remains crucial, with discussions potentially influencing the Children’s Amendment Bill.
Delegates at the review of the Integrated Justice System (IJS) programme at the Department of Social Development (DSD) have called for the Child Protection Register (CPR) to be more readily accessible to all South Africans and the South African Police Service. The proposed system would allow individuals to input an ID number and receive preliminary information on whether a person is suitable to work with children, with DSD providing confirmation in writing if necessary. This measure aims to enhance child protection by preventing unsuitable individuals from working with children.
The National CPR is designed to safeguard children from abuse by recording incidents of child abuse, maintaining records of convictions and children’s court findings, and listing individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children. A delegate emphasised that easy access to this information could significantly impact areas affecting children, including ensuring proper vetting of individuals who interact with them. The consensus among delegates was that such a system could help address numerous issues and protect children more effectively.
Despite constitutional rights and legislative protections, many children in South Africa still experience physical, sexual, and emotional violence. The CPR consists of two parts: Part A, which documents abuse or neglect cases, tracks services provided to affected children, and identifies trends in abuse; and Part B, which lists individuals unsuitable to work with children and restricts their access to environments where children are present, such as schools and early childhood development centres. As of July 2024, the register includes 12,596 names of persons unsuitable to work with children and has screened 115,570 prospective adoptive and foster parents and 23,479 potential employees.
Mr. Nkatane Matsomane, Manager of the Child Protection Register at DSD, acknowledged the potential benefits of these suggestions but stressed the need for compliance with existing laws, including the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the Children’s Act. He noted that these proposals can be taken forward in the forthcoming Children’s Amendment Bill. The integration of technological systems within the IJS, alongside collaboration with the South African Police Service and other government departments, could enhance child protection efforts and improve the lives of children across the country.