MINISTER TOLASHE CALLS FOR FAMILY-CENTRED CARE REFORM TO PROTECT SOUTH AFRICA’S CHILDREN

By Jaconia Kobue.

•⁠ ⁠Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, opened the inaugural National Summit on Care Reform in Gauteng, calling for a united national effort to strengthen family-based care systems.
•⁠ ⁠The summit, held under the theme “Mobilising National Commitment to Care Reform,” aims to advance the shift from institutional to family-centred childcare.
•⁠ ⁠Minister Tolashe stressed that care reform requires a whole-of-society effort, with government, civil society, and communities working together to protect children’s rights.

The Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, has called on all sectors of society to unite in transforming South Africa’s childcare system to place families at the centre of child protection, care, and development.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural South African National Summit on Care Reform Agenda, held under the theme “Mobilising National Commitment to Care Reform,” Minister Tolashe emphasised that strengthening families is the foundation for protecting and nurturing children.
“South Africa’s childcare system must prioritise families as the first and most important line of protection for children,” the Minister said. “Our vision is a family-centered, developmental childcare and protection system that gives every child the opportunity to thrive.”
The summit, co-hosted by the Department of Social Development (DSD) and One Child One Family Hope and Homes for Children South Africa, brought together government officials, development partners, academics, and child rights advocates to advance the country’s Care Reform Agenda.

Commitment Rooted in the Constitution

Minister Tolashe reaffirmed that South Africa’s commitment to a family-based childcare approach is anchored in the Constitution and reinforced by the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005). Section 28 of the Bill of Rights enshrines every child’s right to family or appropriate alternative care, as well as protection from maltreatment, neglect, and abuse.
Since ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), South Africa has continued to strengthen legislation and policies that uphold these rights. The Minister noted that amendments to the Children’s Act are underway to close policy gaps and reinforce protective measures for children.

Strengthening Families and Parenting Support

The Minister highlighted several initiatives led by DSD to promote positive parenting and strengthen families. These include the Revised White Paper on Families, which recognises the diversity of family structures and positions families at the centre of the national development agenda.
The department is also implementing evidence-based parenting programmes such as Sinovuyo Teen Parenting, the Mothers and Daughters / Fathers and Sons Dialogues, and the Parenting Policy Benchmarking Programme, which aim to enhance parenting skills and foster nurturing family environments.
“We have made significant progress in institutionalising positive parenting programmes with support from UNICEF and civil society. These initiatives are showing real results in communities, especially in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal,” Minister Tolashe added.

Shifting from Institutional Care to Family-Based Alternatives

The Minister underscored that while progress has been made in strengthening South Africa’s childcare system, more must be done to reduce institutionalisation and promote family-based alternatives.
“The reform agenda does not happen overnight,” she said. “It continues in the work we do every day to build a better childcare system. If we get this right, future generations will see a system that gives every child a fair chance to reach their full potential.”
Programmes such as RISIHA, a community-based prevention and early intervention initiative, were highlighted as critical to preventing the unnecessary removal of children from their families. RISIHA provides support to vulnerable families across seven key areas, including psychosocial care, health promotion, food security, and education.

A Call to Action for Collective Responsibility

Minister Tolashe emphasised that protecting children is a collective responsibility that extends beyond government. She called on parents, civil society, faith-based organisations, and the private sector to play an active role in strengthening the care system.
She also announced that the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC) will soon be tabled before Cabinet. The strategy provides a whole-of-government framework for improving the safety and well-being of children.
“Momentum for a shift from institutional to family-based care is growing globally,” the Minister said. “We must strengthen families to ensure that every child grows up in a loving and supportive environment. Keeping children safe is a universal obligation and a shared moral duty.”
The Minister concluded by reaffirming the department’s commitment to collaborate with partners such as One Child One Family Hope and Homes for Children to ensure the care reform agenda delivers on South Africa’s constitutional promise to its children.