NAMIBIAN STUDY TOUR BUILDS ON SOUTH AFRICA’S CHILD CARE EXPERIENCE

By Lucky Thebe

• A senior Namibian delegation is in Pretoria from 5 to 9 October 2026 to learn from South Africa’s experience in child protection, child justice, adoptions, international social services and victim empowerment.
• Insights from South Africa’s Child and Youth Care Centres will inform Namibia’s feasibility study for a proposed child rehabilitation and detention facility.
• The visit is expected to conclude with discussions on a Draft Joint Implementation Plan and preparations for signing a Memorandum of Understanding on social development.

Senior Namibian officials are visiting South Africa to learn how the country cares for vulnerable children. Their main concerns include children who have migrated from neighbouring countries, children living and working on the streets, and a shortage of social workers.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) is hosting the delegation from Namibia’s Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare in Pretoria from 5 to 9 October 2026. Led by Mr Wilbard Nashandi, the delegation is exchanging experiences with South African officials on child protection, child justice, adoptions, international social services and victim empowerment.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Mr Nashandi explained that the benchmarking visit to South Africa’s Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) will inform Namibia’s plans to establish a child rehabilitation and detention facility.

The visit forms part of an ongoing feasibility study. It aims to deepen the delegation’s understanding of the infrastructure, human resources, information and communication technology, operational and financial requirements of developing and managing such facilities. The insights gained will help validate the study’s findings, refine project cost estimates, and guide the planning, design and implementation of the proposed facility.

The engagement also reflects the continued strengthening of relations between the two countries. Mr Abram Phahlamohlaka, Acting Chief Director: Executive Support and Intergovernmental Relations, said that South Africa–Namibia relations continue to flourish through regular bilateral engagements, including mid-term reviews and the Bi-National Commission. These engagements support ongoing collaboration and the sharing of best practices in social welfare.

During the opening session, the Namibian delegation identified children on the move as an emerging concern. It described a growing number of children from neighbouring countries living on Namibia’s streets, which is placing pressure on care and protection services. The delegation acknowledged the need to respond to these children’s needs while strengthening the capacity of its services.

Programmes for children living and working on the streets are another priority. The delegation described this as an evolving area of work in Namibia and expressed interest in learning about South Africa’s approaches to providing appropriate care, protection and support.

Welcoming the delegation, the Deputy Director-General for Welfare Services, Ms Siza Magangoe, emphasised DSD’s leadership role as custodian of the Children’s Act. She explained that although responsibilities towards children extend across several departments, the Act guides DSD’s mandate and leadership in this area.

She stressed that the Department works alongside other departments, recognising that protecting children requires a coordinated response.
Turning to children living and working on the streets, Ms Magangoe highlighted the importance of supporting and strengthening families. She noted that departmental officials would share programmes and strategies that respond to the circumstances and needs of these children during the visit.

On children in conflict with the law, Ms Magangoe emphasised timely assessment, diversion and appropriate care. She described arrangements that ensure a child is assessed within eight hours and referred to a place of safety or a suitable alternative to imprisonment. Her remarks underscored the importance of protecting children and preventing their deeper involvement in the criminal justice system.

The Namibian delegation reflected on the value of an earlier benchmarking visit to South Africa, which had informed systems introduced in Namibia’s child justice programme. A delegation representative explained that coordination in Namibia has relied on interdepartmental agreements and the Criminal Procedure Act.

However, the delegation acknowledged continuing challenges, particularly the limited availability of places of safety for children in conflict with the law. The representative reported that these shortcomings had prompted Namibia’s Children’s Advocate to approach the courts.
The delegation also highlighted a shortage of social workers in Namibia, noting that South Africa has a larger pool of social workers. This difference creates further scope for sharing experiences on workforce capacity and service delivery.

Adoption arrangements between the two countries, as well as international social services, which fall within the Namibian ministry’s responsibilities, are also areas of interest.

The week’s technical programme covers national and international adoptions, children on the move, child trafficking, the Child Protection Register, children living and working on the streets, children in conflict with the law, and Child and Youth Care Centres.

Further sessions focus on victim empowerment, human trafficking, shelters for survivors of gender-based violence, services for LGBTQIA+ persons, and the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre.

On Tuesday, 6 October 2026, the delegation toured the Desmond Tutu Child and Youth Care Centre in Pretoria North, hosted by Dr Joyce Ndzuta, and the Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa Secure Care Centre in Soshanguve, hosted by Mr Steven Maselesele.

These visits provided an opportunity to link policy discussions with practical service delivery and to explore care settings relevant to Namibia’s proposed facility. Visits to Mercy House and the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre are also scheduled as part of the programme.

The visit is expected to conclude with reflections on the lessons shared, discussions on a Draft Joint Implementation Plan, and preliminary preparations for the official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between South Africa and Namibia in the field of social development.

The exchange offers both countries an opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and to strengthen cooperation in responding to the needs of children, families and vulnerable communities.