Soweto Child Protection Forum strengthens frontline response for safer communities

By Lawrence Mashabela

• The Gauteng Department of Social Development recently hosted a workshop to equip frontline practitioners with the skills and knowledge required to safeguard children’s rights.
• Participants included social workers, social auxiliary workers, and care workers from various government departments and non-profit organisations across Soweto.
• They used the opportunity to share experiences, identify service delivery challenges, and develop collective solutions to address the complex social issues affecting children and families – with a particular emphasis on child protection systems.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development convened a Soweto Child Protection Forum capacity-building workshop at the Soweto College in Pimville recently.

The workshop, held in partnership with Childline South Africa, forms part of the department’s ongoing efforts to strengthen child protection systems in line with the Children’s Act 2005, which provides a comprehensive legal framework for the care, protection, and well-being of children. The Act places a responsibility on all spheres of government and civil society to safeguard children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm.

The Child Protection Forums play an important role in implementing the Act at the community level by promoting coordination, cooperation, and shared accountability among stakeholders involved in child protection services.

Structures such as the forum help ensure that prevention, early intervention, and statutory services are delivered in an integrated and child-centred manner.

Approximately 60 social workers, social auxiliary workers, and care workers from various government departments and non-profit organisations across Soweto attended the workshop.

Professionals shared experiences, identified service delivery challenges, and developed collective solutions to address the complex social issues affecting children and families.

Discussions focused on strengthening the early identification of children in need of care and protection, improving referral pathways, and enhancing case management processes.

Participants also emphasised the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration to ensure timely and appropriate support for children, while preventing the duplication of services and closing service gaps.

Child protection remains a priority for the Gauteng Department of Social Development, particularly in communities facing socio-economic challenges such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, and family instability.

Through ongoing capacity-building initiatives, the department continues to equip frontline practitioners with the skills and knowledge required to effectively implement legislative mandates and safeguard children’s rights.

Speaking during the workshop, Childline Soweto social worker Nomsa Sekete underscored the importance of partnerships in building a protective environment for children.

“We are here to network and build strong relationships with other stakeholders in our quest to provide support to our children,” said Sekete.

“Working together allows us to respond more effectively and ensure that children are protected and supported.”