Chairperson, Members of Parliament, comrades, ladies and gentlemen and our guests in the gallery, please allow me to begin on an optimistic note, even amidst the horrendously violent attacks on and the abuse and murder of our children and youth that we have seen particularly over the past weeks in South Africa. Chairperson, it is a fact that since 1994 the ANC-led government has done, and is still doing, everything in its power to protect its children and young people, giving them priority and putting them at the heart of all our national policies.
Indeed, South Africa is one of the few countries in our continent that has aggressively pursued the idea of citizenship as including children and the youth. The newly formed Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities is one important structure that this government mandates to formally articulate and recognise the aspirations, needs and conditions of our children and youth in South Africa.
Today, in this House, we find ourselves debating, discussing and reminding our people, our communities and our entire nation that a society that does not care about the wellbeing of its children is a society without a future. These are the wise words of a novelist from Cameroon, Calixthe Beyala, and they are words that we as a nation need to quickly find resonance with, lest we plunge our future into ultimate doom.
If we take note of just the three young victims who were killed on 7, 11 and 12 October respectively, we will realise that they are all confirmed as being under the age of 9. And if we care to probe further into the nature of their murders, we will find three startling facts. The first fact is that family members, relatives, parents or mothers account for most cases of horrific child abuse. On 12 October 2011, a mother disposed of her newborn baby in a dam. Secondly, the abuser is often someone whom the child is familiar with and trusts. In this instance, the abuser uses the child's vulnerability and affection to his advantage. On 7 October 2011, Athenkosi Nkone, a four-year- old, was called into the perpetrator's shack for sweets. The perpetrator slit the child's throat and put the child's body in a suitcase.
The third fact is that child molesters silence their young victims as ruthlessly as they can. On 11 October 2011, Zikhona Qhayi, an 8-year-old, was strangled after being sexually assaulted. This brutal perpetrator sexually harmed and then killed Zikhona to silence her forever and prevent her from telling anyone about the molestation.
Here we are in this House today, asking ourselves, asking the whole nation, what prompted these monster child molesters and killers to steal the blessing of innocence and replace that innocence with unimaginable fear, hurt and permanent damage to the young bodies of these children. Some will immediately reply that all gender-based violence derives from or is caused by gender inequalities in a patriarchal society. Some of us will surely go further and say that socioeconomic hardship is the cause of the social ills and evils we see today.
When we start asking what the first line of defence against child abuse and murder is, some of us here will say that people must bring an abused child to the attention of the appropriate authorities. Some will say the police must do their job and apprehend these monsters who are child molesters and killers. But, at best, all of the above may contribute in preventing an abused child from suffering further harm. All in all, it is what I call a late intervention.
Colleagues, comrades, as the Ministry of Police and in my capacity as the Deputy Minister of Police, our message to this House today is that the greater good is to prevent child abuse before it occurs. Nothing beats proactive solutions and interventions.
What do I mean by proactive interventions? First, all primary professionals such as police officers, teachers, nurses and day-care workers who regularly come into contact with children must be adequately trained in child abuse recognition and prevention.
Secondly, centres such as the Thuthuzela centres and the SA Police Service, SAPS, Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit must be utilised maximally to assist and prepare communities and families for the job of nonabusive child rearing. These facilities must be used to equip parents with adequate knowledge and parenting skills. So far, since last year November, we have re-established these units in all nine provinces. We have just started with the recruitment of people with special skills to get, for example, more social workers and psychologists into our system and we are equipping our police officers with the investigative skills that we think they are still lacking.
Thirdly, we have structures within the police such as the SAPS Women's Network and the SAPS Men for Change. These must partner with other civil society structures to bolster a community that is supportive; a community that can provide children with the safe and nurturing environment they need to grow into healthy, self-sufficient adults.
Chairperson, colleagues and comrades, we must acknowledge one thing in this House. Yes, our respective capacities and responsibilities as Members of Parliament, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and public servants such as nurses, teachers and police officers are very clear under the Constitution and related laws of the Republic. However, saving young lives from abuse surely must be more than the statutory protection of a child. Saving a young life is fundamentally about doing what is right and not what we are forced to do or what we are legally bound to do. We must always do what is right.
It is about stressing the need to revive our fundamental value that says: "My child is your child, and a child is raised by the whole village." What is right is a child being given the opportunity by his or her community and family to grow up healthy and safe. As such, the whole nation of South Africa has no greater responsibility than the protection of its children against all forms of violence and abuse. Central to this community obligation is the action-oriented government structures and programmes of education and advocacy that provide the necessary supportive resources for ensuring the safety of our children and restoring the dignity of those who survive the horrible ordeal of abuse and violence.
Innovative intergovernmental programmes such as the victim empowerment programme, referred to as the VEP, are such structures where survivors of child violence and abuse can receive immediate and long-term care and counselling. I must say today in this House that when it comes to such victim empowerment centres, Limpopo is doing a very good job.
This programme not only assists the police by providing a centralised facility where police investigators can meet with the victim and gather evidence, but these centres also bring together all relevant legal and medical agencies and departments into a single space. This provides better assistance to the victim and also facilitates criminal investigation. The right thing to happen in these VEP centres is for the people who have been delegated to help the survivors of these sex-related crimes to be motivated, compassionate, diligent and dedicated in their work.
We also urge that public servants should premise their motivation on the belief that the child survivor has the right to privacy, safety and human dignity. They must know that it is extremely difficult for a child to report sexual abuse. The child may not even understand that what has happened is not normal or acceptable. Hence we urge those people who work with children to be aware that they should always be alert to any opportunity to aid the child who attempts to disclose or report abuse. The child's need for support and protection must come first.
We know that many adults have a tendency to overlook, discount or disbelieve allegations of sexual abuse, especially when the perpetrator or molester is a family member or a law-abiding, seemingly respectable, nice and normal person. In such instances, we assume the child is lying. We must know that children rarely lie or invent stories on their own about being sexually abused. They rarely do that. A child cannot always come up with such a story.
Now and again we plead with our communities to work with the police to fight crime of all types, because it is a fact that police officers can never be on all street corners, in all schools, in all homes, nor in our bedrooms, to fight the scourge of child abuse. Last month I met with the commander of the SAPS Nyanga cluster and his detectives, who were investigating the case of a 21-year-old victim - Chief Whip - of this province. The victim's name is Nontsikelelo Tyatyeka and her decomposed body was found in a rubbish bin a year after she was murdered by a childhood friend simply because she was a lesbian.
I asked the lead detective who discovered the remains whether he received any counselling after discovering the almost skeletal body. To my horror, he said no. As police leadership, we have been urging police management to make sure that our police officers are well nurtured and their general wellness sustained at all times.
You can just imagine what it must have been like when they opened the dustbin. Because it is so hot in a dustbin, the bones were like isuphu ngaphakathi [soup inside], and the police officer is then expected to take out what is in that dustbin. Given all this, there is nothing that we, the leadership, are doing with regard to counselling to make sure that we prepare them before they go to such scenes.
Extreme exhaustion and shock can cause a police officer to suffer loss of sleep, heightened anxiety and a poor diet, resulting in an irritable, aggressive and short-tempered police officer. We complain that amapolisa aseNyanga awasihoyi, ayadineka sithi [Nyanga police do not attend to us; they are snappy towards us]; they are doing this and that, but the blame is with us as leadership. For them to be able to assist us, we need to look after their wellbeing. Through the SAPS wellness programmes, which will be rolled out in all cluster police stations, we will make sure that the wellness and needs of our police officers are fulfilled, so that our men and women in blue continue to do the sterling work of reducing all types of crime in our country.
In conclusion, as this ANC-led government continues to respond to the calls of our people for a more visible police force patrolling local areas and protecting them against crime in all its forms, we are also calling on communities, parents, community leaders and all professionals who work with children to assess community risks and protection factors. As government we say that every one of us has a role to play in helping our children and youth acquire quality life skills so that South Africa can one day be counted as one of the best places in the world for a child to enjoy his childhood and a young person to enjoy being a young person. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I thought the Minister would end her speech by saying enough is enough. The icon of our revolution, Nelson Mandela, once said, "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." This statement must form the premise of this debate as we engage with the issue of working together to protect our children. It will provide the cornerstone for our endeavours to protect the wellbeing of our children.
Despite a world-renowned Constitution and a legislative overhaul that safeguards children's rights, South Africa still has high levels of violence against women and children. The key issues that must be considered if child protection is to be ensured are child abuse and neglect, child survival, human trafficking, missing children, and parental care and responsibility.
I will focus on children living in especially difficult circumstances and their need to be protected; on the categories of children who are particularly vulnerable to abuse and neglect, and I will attempt to give a brief description of the legislative framework that outlines the rights under which the protection of children in our country is safeguarded.
The South African government has responded to the protection of children in various ways. The South African Constitution contains a number of socioeconomic rights that only apply to children. In terms of section 28(1)(c) every child has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services. The Constitution also contains the right to life, in section 11, and the right to equality, in section 9.
It further requires the interpretation of rights to consider international law. South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. It is also a member of the African Union and as such committed itself to implementing the Millennium Development Goals and the New Partnership for Africa's Development. The South African government also has specific laws that protect children from maltreatment, abuse, neglect and degradation that are currently in place, including but not limited to the following. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007, deals with the extension of the definition of rape; consensual sexual acts with certain children; sexual exploitation of children; the National Register for Sex Offenders; human trafficking; medical and counselling services for victims and the compulsory HIV testing of alleged sex offenders.
The Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005, is an overarching piece of legislation that enhances child protection. This Act outlines that decisions should be made in the best interests of a child and that each child has the right to participate in decision-making that affects him or her. The Act also changed majority age from 21 years to 18 years and further obliged government to ensure substantive equality and equal access to social services for children with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
The Act further provides the following: early childhood development programmes; partial and foster care services; prevention and early intervention services for vulnerable children; protection services for abused children; support groups for child-headed households; partial and secure care facilities and adoption.
The Child Justice Act, Act 75 of 2008, deals specifically with children and youth in conflict with the law and was drafted to bring legislation in line with the provisions of the Constitution, particularly those pertaining to children's rights. These include the minimum age of criminal responsibility; assessments for all youth and children awaiting trial; references to the relevant international treaties; the importance of diversion programmes; and access to identification of documents.
Furthermore, our government has identified key departments providing the programmes and services intended to protect children. These fall primarily within the government's social and justice and crime prevention cluster. To this end, I wish to speak briefly about each of the lead departments within these clusters in terms of the policies, programmes and services that are in place and aim to protect children.
The Department of Social Development renders services that give effect to the right to social security and social services, which include child protection services provided to all children in need of care. The Draft Policy Framework and the Strategic Plan on the Prevention and Management of Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation was compiled with the aim of reducing the incidence of abuse and neglect and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.
The National Child Protection Register, as prescribed by the Children's Act, records vulnerable children under the age of 18 years who are in need of care and protection.
With regard to Isolabantwana [Eye on the Child], the department funded the SA National Council for Child Welfare to institute a prevention programme in communities to eliminate child abuse and promote child protection. The programme aims to provide a safety net for children within a community where services and support can be provided to children who are at risk on a 24-hour basis and in areas where resources are limited. Furthermore, the department also funds Childline South Africa, a nongovernmental organisation rendering statutory services for the protection of children.
The Department of Health provides services that give effect to the right to health care. In terms of child protection, the department provides preventive and curative health care services. This includes rendering services such as, but not limited to, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, post-exposure prophylaxis to rape victims, antiretroviral treatment and acute medical care to children who have been abused or injured.
The Department of Police is providing services, programmes and projects aimed at crime prevention and combating, at both provincial and station level, with the target of reducing contact crime, particularly against children. I won't go into details here because the Deputy Minister has outlined that very well.
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development aims to uphold and protect the Constitution and the rule of law, and to render accessible, fair, speedy and cost-effective administration of justice in the interests of a safer and more secure South Africa. This department has placed crimes against women and children high on its agenda and is prioritising issues such as public communication about services and assistance for victims of crime; services related to maintenance; sexual and domestic violence, and other issues affecting socially vulnerable groups.
In addition to this, and to ensure that child protection is mainstreamed and highlighted, we continue to host Child Protection Week, which runs from 23 May to 1 June every year. This culminates in the celebration of International Children's Day on 1 June every year.
On 1 June 2011 at Soshanguve in Pretoria, Gauteng province, the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities launched the Study on Child Killing. This was done to commemorate the Day of the African Child, International Children's Day and Child Protection Week.
In conclusion, despite the legislative framework, interventions and programmes, we continue to see the prevalence of child abuse and murder. This is illustrated by recent SA Police Service statistics that the number of children murdered increased by 14,5%, and attempted murder increased by 42,3%. Specifically, the number of children murdered increased by 122 cases from 843 to 965, and attempted murder cases increased from 782 to 1 113 cases. This is not acceptable. Investigations have revealed that children are murdered by people known to them as well as by strangers.
We therefore have a responsibility to ensure that all children's rights must be protected and not violated. We should use both local and international legislative tools as part of our daily discourse and incorporate an understanding of human rights in all debates and discussions. This discourse should filter through into our oversight function as well by ensuring that issues related to children are investigated through the lens of children's rights. This holistic approach is a significant stepping stone toward achieving the protection of all children. Enough is enough. [Time expired.]
Chair, let me stand on the other side; I don't want to be standing on your side, hon member ... [Laughter.] Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, MECs, members ...
Hon member, please turn on your microphone. The discussion is being recorded. [Interjections.] In that case, use another microphone.
Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, MECs, members and comrades, all human beings have certain basic needs. Among these are the need for shelter, security and food. Children, as the most vulnerable group of society, need to feel safe and grounded. This, along with the basic need for food, shelter and health care, gives children the roots for healthy growth and development. Therefore the support of their parents and society as a whole is critical.
Nonetheless, deepening child poverty, children going to school on empty stomachs, child welfare services struggling to sustain their critical services and high levels of child abuse suggest that we need to pay a lot more attention to our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The status of children not only serves as a test of our society's morality but also provides a glimpse into our future.
More than 10% of children in South Africa are orphaned.
Chair, I rise on a point of order: In terms of the Rules, is it parliamentary for members to cross the line between your chair and the speaker? It has now happened three times.
Yes, hon Sinclair, I was actually going to point out that that behaviour is unparliamentary. Can I just remind hon members of that? Actually, the person who caused the problem is the Whip, hon Mncube. I am aware of that. Please, let us not cross in front of the member addressing the House. I think that Rule applies in all legislatures. You all know that; the Rule is the same. Continue, hon Van Rooyen.
Thank you, Chairperson. The majority of orphaned children live in deeply impoverished households. Apart from the loss of their parents, they face inadequate nutrition and poor access to education and health care.
Take, for example, the case of three orphaned children aged 17, 14 and 7, in the Botlokwa community in Qwaqwa, Free State. This is their story in their own words:
There are three of us. My eldest sister is 14 and she wants to be an actress. I, a 17-year-old boy, would like to be a doctor, and my little brother hopes to be a policeman, but he is only seven. We live with our grandmother, who is very poor, but she does her best to take care of us. The community helps her pay for our food, clothes and school fees. She says that she will pay them back some day but, for now, it allows us to eat and go to school most of the time.
Sometimes we still go without food for a week and we still do not have shoes. We work hard to help our grandmother and stay in school. We chop wood, clean the house and weed and water the garden. The little one would like to help with the mealie meal, but he only eats and plays. I would also like to play soccer when the chores are done.
If we are having a hard time or need things, we don't tell granny because she feels bad if she can't help us. We have some good friends and neighbours, but many of them do not know how to help. The reverend at the church we attend gives us mealie meal when we need something. If would be nice to have someone to talk to sometimes.
This is a rural perspective from the Free State.
South African children played a very prominent role in the liberation struggle and also fought for their rights. The 1976 Soweto uprisings are testament to the courage children displayed in standing up for their rights and beliefs.
In the Bill of Rights in Chapter 2 of our Constitution, a whole section is devoted to the rights of children. This section - section 28 - is a direct result of their struggle and courage. As these rights are enshrined in the Constitution, a heavy responsibility is placed on the state to firstly protect these rights and, secondly, to ensure that all children in this country have a fair opportunity to enjoy them.
In its 2010 annual report on South Africa, Unicef correctly states:
The South African government is considered to be one of the most child- friendly in terms of budget allocations for children, with large investments made in early childhood development and social protection.
This is not by accident, but clearly demonstrates this government's commitment to being a caring government that finds its policy directives from the Freedom Charter.
Allow me to highlight some achievements of the ANC government. Unfortunately, the opposition cannot claim any of these things. [Interjections.] All they can do, as we say in Afrikaans, is braak gal en maak mense bang; dis al wat hulle kan doen [is vent their spleens and scare people; that's all they can do].
As the ANC, we do acknowledge that there are still challenges around child mortality - it is still unacceptably high - and around violence against and abuse of children. However, the child support grant, for example, has increased more than tenfold since 2000, reaching more than 10 million disadvantaged children in 2011 with a monthly grant of R250. Unfortunately, the opposition also had nothing to do with that. [Laughter.]
This year, the Department of Social Development has to extend the programme ...
We also had nothing to do with all the corruption in your province! [Laughter.]
... to include all children under the age of 18 as part of the expansion of the social assistance safety net. Again, they had nothing to do with that.
Nor with corruption!
The National School Nutrition Programme helps to alleviate child hunger by providing nutritious meals to eligible primary school pupils. Children under the age of six and pregnant mothers are entitled to pre-primary health care.
Chair, I want to enquire, through you, if the member is prepared to take a question?
Are you prepared to take a question, hon Van Rooyen?
Chair, he is wasting my time. I am not taking any questions. [Interjections.]
The member is not prepared to take a question, Mr Watson. Please continue, hon Van Rooyen.
Thank you, Chairperson. These are some of government's programmes that are directly focused on our children. Clearly this shows that the ANC government is a caring government that has placed the plight of our children high on its agenda.
South Africa is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal access to primary education and gender equality. Disadvantaged children benefit from free education through the government's no-fee schools and its school fee exemption policy. In 2008-09, 98,6% of children of schoolgoing age attended school, which is up from 86,7% in 1996. Most promising is also the steadily increasing matric pass rate.
Allow me also to wish the matric class of 2011 the very best for this year's matric examination, which started last week. We hope they will be very successful.
What is very promising is the dramatic rise in access to early childhood development programmes for young children, which is up from 16% in 2001 to 43% in 2009. The plight of the three orphans from Qwaqwa, as mentioned, is not an isolated one. It calls on all of us to tackle the issues concerning children as a collective. In the spirit of ubuntu, our communities should work together to take care of our children. No child should be left to go hungry or neglected. If enough people were touched by the spirit of ubuntu, it would, in time, change the whole landscape of how children are treated in this country.
I conclude with the words of Graa Machel:
We must do anything and everything to protect children, to give them priority and a better future. This is a call to action and a call to embrace the new morality that puts children where they belong - at the heart of all agendas.
Hon Chair, hon Deputy Minister and hon members, children are the future of our beloved country and it is our duty to show them how to dream towards it and make them experience their dreams coming true. It all starts by growing up in a healthy environment where children can have a sense of belonging and feeling safe.
The power of education to transform societies cannot be underestimated. Education breaks the generational cycles of poverty and disease and it is the key to national development and prosperity. Quality education equips and empowers boys and girls with the knowledge and skills needed to lead healthy lives, protect themselves against HIV and shape the course of communities. Girls in particular benefit tremendously from having their right against gender-based discrimination asserted and can then take charge of their lives.
South Africa has the ability to transform its education sector into one of the continent's best. The groundwork has been done. South Africa adopted an approach of education for all and development and informed initiatives towards these goals are integrated in national strategic plans, policies and programmes. As custodians, it is our duty to see to it that these are followed through on so that our children can reap the benefits.
Education is definitely one of the highest national priorities. As a result children's access to basic education is extensive and most children stay in school at least to the end of the primary-school phase. The education of girls is one of the main achievements of the postapartheid education system, with boys and girls enrolling in school in almost equal numbers.
Educational opportunities for children from previously disadvantaged backgrounds are now considerably better than before. While South Africa is very close to achieving the Millennium Development Goals of universal primary education and gender equality in education, the education system still struggles to deliver quality education. The failure of government to achieve this national priority is actually alarming.
Many children experience a broken journey through school. Their school careers are interrupted by irregular attendance, absent teachers, teenage pregnancy and school-related abuse and violence. High levels of poverty continue to deny thousands of children access to quality education.
Another problem is the limited provision of preschool and special education. The majority of children between birth and four years do not have access to quality early childhood care and learning. The poverty rate in South Africa is the highest among children from newborn to the age of four years, becoming slightly lower from the age of 5 and older. This is perhaps because older children are able to contribute more to the family through working than younger children are capable of doing.
Poverty means more than just the lack of money. The poverty that these children live in affects their access to school and health care and their chance of growing up in an environment that could possibly help them break free from poverty. Most children in South Africa who are living in poverty are malnourished from birth. The lack of nutritious food affects the physical and mental growth and development of children as well as their overall health.
The lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation methods leads to health problems among these groups. Diseases are spread quickly and easily when they are caught, especially among children in South Africa. Communities have been torn apart by HIV/Aids, leaving young children without proper care and protection. Parents become ill and are unable to work and help their family. Special medicines and the diet needed by HIV- infected parents may be costly and difficult to get. This added stress on a family leads to depression and further illness as immune systems are lowered.
A study of the impact the global economic recession has had on children indicated that poverty remained high at 65,5%, compared to 52% of other countries with children. Because of poverty, child labour has crept into communities. Child labour deprives children of their childhood, potential and dignity. Commercial sexual exploitation is one of the most hazardous forms of child labour. Child labour should be eliminated and employers of such children should be dealt with harshly.
Child abuse and the rape and murder of children is currently reaching alarming figures and the culprits of these actions should be brought to book as they have no place in a democratic society. If we look only at the past two months, the murder and rape of children were on the front pages of all the newspapers. A schoolgirl was kidnapped at gunpoint as she walked to school. Her burnt body was found on a farm in Magaliesburg. Two weeks ago, a three-year-old boy's butchered body was found stuffed into a suitcase at the neighbour's house in Gugulethu in the Western Cape. Just over a month ago, two sisters, aged eight and 12, were stabbed and raped in Khayelitsha. The younger girl died from her injuries. These are only a few examples of horrifying images stuck in my mind of innocent children who had their lives ahead of them.
Let's take the first step by protecting our children and by educating them so that their dreams can come true.
Ke a leboha Modulasetulo, Motlatsaletona le maloko a hlomphehang. Re le mokgatlo wa ANC, ke kgale re qetile hore ditlolo tsa molao tsa tlhekefetso ya basadi le bana di ka sehloohong. Mmuso le Lefapha la Sepolesa di tumme ka matsapa a tsona a ho lwantsha ditlolo tsa molao tse ka sehloohong. Ditlolo tsena tsa molao ke tse mpe haholo dihlopheng tsa batho ba kotsing haholo setjhabeng.
Mokotaba wa dipuisano tsena e leng tshebedisanommoho ho sireletseng bana ba rona, o sisinya mekgwa e tla sebediswa ho sireletsa bana ditlolong tsa molao le ho dikgoka. Re a tseba hore bokamoso ba naha ena ya rona bo baneng ba rona. Mohoo wa dikgetho wa mokga wa ANC o bontsha tlhokeho ya ho matlafatswa ha tshireletso ya bana ke ditheo tse kenyang molao kgabong.
Bolaodi bo Ikemetseng ba Ditletlebo le Ditshebeletso tsa Sepolesa sa Afrika Borwa ba sebedisana mmoho thomong ya ho lwantsha ditlolo tsa molao, haholoholo ditlolo tsa molao baneng. Mohlodi wa thomo ena ya tshebedisanommoho ke tokomane ya mokga wa ANC e bitswang Policing the Transition, e hlalosang mokgwa o motle wa ho ntlafatsa mosebetsi wa sepolesa ho Afrika Borwa ya demokerasi ho netefatsa tshebetso e ntle le boikarabelo. Re le mokga wa ANC, re boetse ra nka qeto hore tshireletso ya bana ha e hloke feela tshebeletso e matla ya sepolesa empa e hloka selekane se matla mahareng a sepolesa le setjhaba.
E se e le nako e telele re nkile qeto hore bahlekefetsi ba bana ba lokela ho fuwa dikotlo tse thata. Re bona kamehla makgotla a dinyewe a isa bahlekefetsi ditjhankaneng empa ditlolo tsena tsa molao di ntse di tswela pele. Re boetse re bona matsapa a sepolesa a ho thakgola botjha Yuniti ya Twantsho ya Dikgoka Malapeng le Yuniti ya Tshireletso ya Bana le Ditlhekefetso tsa Motabo. Re tshepa hore diyuniti tsena di tla thusa ho fokotsa dinyewe tsa tlhekefetso ya bana le dikgoka malapeng.
Setjhaba sa rona se tlameha ho sebedisana mmoho le sepolesa ho lwantsha ditlolo tsa molao. Re boetse re tlameha ho matlafatsa seabo sa setjhaba kgahlanong le ditlolo tse mpe tsa molao. Mokotaba wa rona o tsamaisana le mesebetsi ya sehlooho, e leng hore: "Ha re sebetsa mmoho re ka sireletsa bana ba rona."Boholo ba ditlolo tse tjena tsa molao ha bo etsahale setjhabeng feela kapa hona ho susumetswa ke baditjhaba, empa ka dinako tse ding bo etswa ke ba leloko kapa batswadi baneng ba bona.
Molao wa Tshebediso ya Dikgoka ka Lapeng o na le ditlamo tse itseng mapoleseng a amohelang ditletlebo tsa dikgoka malapeng empa ho sebetswa ha dinyewe tsa tshebediso ya dikgoka malapeng ke mapolesa ho hlahisa dipotso tse pedi. Ya pele ke hore na sepolesa se na le bokgoni ba ho sebetsana le dinyewe tsena? Ya bobedi ke hore na ho boima ho kenya Molao wa Tshebediso ya Dikgoka ka Lapeng tshebetsong ka tsela eo o leng ka wona?
Modulasetulo, ke nnete hore sekamolao sena se setjha se bitswang Moifo o Ikemetseng wa Balaodi ba Dipatlisiso tsa Sepolesa se sa tswa tekenwa ke Mopresidente Zuma ho se etsa molao ka la 12 Motsheanong 2011, se ekeditse thomo ya Moifo o Ikemetseng wa Ditletlebo se bile se e kentse motjheng. Ho se ho se hokae molao ona o kenngwa tshebetsong ho tla thusa ho lwantsha ditlolo tsena tsa molao. Moelelong ona Karolo ya 28 le ya 12 tsa Molaotheo di leka ho sireletsa bana ditlolong tsa molao. Dikarolo le dipehelo tsena di bontsha bana e le mahlatsipa a ditlolo tsa molao le dikgoka kapa tlhekefetso le ho se tsotellwe. Ho bohlokwa mapoleseng ho fuputsa ka tshwanelo dipelaelo tsa ditlolo tsa molao baneng jwaloka ha a matlafaditswe ke melao.
Ditlolo tsa molao kgahlanong le bana di bonwa di le mahlonoko jwaloka ha di laolwa ke Molao wa Mokgwatshebetso wa Bosenyi le Molao wa Phetolelo wa Bosenyi. Ka ho tshwanang, dinyewe tsa bana ba tlotseng molao di sebetswa hantle ke Molao wa Toka Baneng. Molao wa Phetolelo wa Bosenyi o fana ka dipehelo tsa kahlolo bakeng sa dinyewe tse mahlonoko kgahlanong le bana tse buuwang le ho ahlolwa Makgotleng a Dinyewe a Mabatowa le a Phahameng. Tsena di mabapi le ho fana ka dikahlolo tsa ho hlola bophelo bohle tjhankaneng kapa dikahlolo tse tlase-tlase tse beilweng haeba ho se mabaka a tshwarehang a ho bebofatsa kahlolo ka lebaka la maemo a tshwarehang a bile a susumetsa a tokafatsang kahlolo e bobejana ho feta ya sethathong. Sepheo sa molao ona ke ho bebofaletsa bao ba fumanweng ba le molato wa ditlolo tsa molao kgahlanong le bana.
Mmuso o theile makgotla a dinyewe a ditlolo tsa molao tsa motabo e le ona a tla shebana le dinyewe tsa bana ba hlekefeditsweng, ba tlatlapuweng le ba betilweng. Ana ke makgotla a ikgethileng a lokiseditsweng ho tsamaelana le bana, ho dumella bopaki boo ngwana a fanang ka bona ka thuso ya mosebeletsi wa Setjhaba le bohle ba fanang ka thuso. Mosebetsi wa lepolesa le fuputsang ke wa bohlokwa haholo ho bokella bopaki bo lekaneng. Ka dinako tse ding bana e ka ba dipaki dinyeweng tsa bana bao e leng mahlatsipa mme sena se tlisa phepetso e kgolo tshebeletsong ya botjhutjhisi le Sepolesa.
Molao wa Toka Baneng o na le mekgwatsamaiso ya toka ya ho busetsa e kenyeletsang hara dintho tse ding, tshireletso ya bana ba tlotseng molao ka ho ba faposa ho mokgwatshebetso wa toka ditlolong tsa molao. Maikemisetso a Molao ona jwaloka ha o hlahella ho Karolo ya 2, a kenyeletsa tshebediso ya phetolelo e le mokgwa wa ho thibela bana hore ba shebane le maemo a mabe a mokgwatshebetso wa toka ditlolong tsa molao.
Phetolelo e kenyeletsa ho tlosa dinyewe makgotleng a dinyewe a tlwaelehileng moo ho nang le bopaki bo lekaneng bakeng sa ho tjhutjhisa. Ho ya ka Molao, phetolelo e ka fihlellwa ka ditsela tse tharo. Ya pele ke ya mokgwa wa botjhutjhisi ba phetolelo bakeng sa ditlolo tse nyane tsa molao. Ya bobedi ke ya nako ya diphuputso tsa qalong, ka taelo ya lekgotla la diphuputso.Jwale Molao o fana ka moralo ho netefatsa tsela e tshwanang ya tshebetso le tiisetso ya molao mabapi le phetolelo.
Makgotla a rona a dinyewe, setjhaba le bohle ba nang le seabo ba tlameha ho netefatsa hore Molao ona o latelwa ka hohle-hohle ho kgothalletsa tshireletso ya bana. Re tlameha ho ruta batho ba rona ka mekgwatsamaiso ena ya bohlokwa ya ho busetsa e nang le tlhokomelo le tshireletso ya bana. Ho bohlokwa ho hlokomela hore ke lekgetlo la pele phetoho ena e kenyelletswa tsamaisong ya mokgwatshebetso wa toka ditlolong tsa molao. Kahoo, Molao o leka ho hlakisa maikemisetso a phetolelo ho bohle ba nang le seabo.
Ke kahoo karolwana ya 51 e hlalosang maikemisetso a phetolelo hara tse ding e le ho shebana le bana kantle ho mokgwa wa tsamaiso ya toka ditlolong tsa molao; ho kgothalletsa ngwana ho ba le boikarabelo bohlokong bo entsweng ke yena; ho fihlella ditlhoko tse itseng tsa ngwana ka mong; ho kgothalletsa ho kenyelletswa ha ngwana, lelapa la hae kapa setjhaba ho sena; ho fana ka monyetla ho ba amehileng bohlokong ho hlalosa maikutlo a bona ka kgahlamelo ya sena ho bona; ho kgothalletsa ho hlatsuwa ha lehlatsipa mahlo ka mokgwa o itseng wa morokotso; ho kgothalletsa poelano mahareng a ngwana le motho kapa setjhaba se mo utlwisitseng bohloko; ho thibela ho songwa ha ngwana le ditlamorao tse mpe tse latelang ho hlahella makgotleng a dinyewe; le ho fokotsa kgonahalo ya ho tlola molao hape.
Mananeo a tlhokomediso a bohlokwa haholo. Re tshwanela ho ruta le ho hlokomedisa setjhaba sa rona ka dikotsi tsa tlhekefetso le ditlolo tsa molao kgahlanong le bana. Re tshwanela ho boloka botho bo reng, "ngwana wa hao ke ngwanaka le nna". Re tshwanela ho ntjhafatsa boleng bona le meetlo ena e phahamisang boleng ba bophelo ba motho le ho hlokomela bana jwaloka batho ba hlokang molato. Meetlo ena kaofela e tshehetswa ke Sekamolao sa Ditokelo tsa Botho.
Ho na le dikatleho tse bonahalang tsa sepolesa kgahlanong le dikgoka le ditlolo tsa molao baneng, jwaloka ha ho bonahala bahlekefetsi ba tshwarwa ka bongata. Re sa le moo, makgotla a rona a dinyewe a tswela pele ho fana ka dikotlo tse boima. Leha ho le jwalo, re tshwanela ho fa setjhaba disebediswa tse ngata. Ha re aheng le ho matlafatsa mahokela a kgahlanong le ditlolo tsa molao setjhabeng, Diforamo tsa Sepolesa sa Setjhaba (CPFs) le dikomiti tsa diterateng. Ntle le qeaqeo, mmoho re ka sireletsa bana ba rona. Ke a leboha. [Mahofi.] (Translation of Sesotho speech follows.)
[Mr T M H MOFOKENG: Thank you, Chairperson, Deputy Minister and hon members. We as the ANC decided long ago that crime relating to the abuse of women and children is a serious matter. Government and the Department of Police are known for their efforts to fight serious crimes. These are very serious crimes against vulnerable groups within the community.
The theme for this debate, which is "Working together to protect our children", suggests methods that can be used to protect our children against crime and violence. We know that the future of this country is in our children. The election campaign of the ANC shows the need to strengthen the protection of children by institutions that implement the law.
The Independent Complaints Directorate and the SA Police Service work together in the fight against crime, especially crimes against children. The source of this co-operation is an ANC document called Policing the Transition, which explain a good way of improving police work in a democratic South Africa to ensure good progress and responsibility. We as the ANC have again decided that protection of children does not only need a strong police service, but needs a strong partnership between the police and the community.
We have, for a long time, decided that those who abuse children must be given heavy sentences. We always see courts sending abusers to jail, but these crimes continue. We also notice efforts by the police to reinstate the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. We hope that this unit will help reduce the cases of child abuse and domestic violence.
Our community must co-operate with the police to fight crime. We also need to strengthen the role of the community against violent crimes. Our theme relates to the main objective, which is: "Working together to protect our children." Most of these crimes do not only happen in the community or motivated by foreigners, but sometimes they are committed by relatives or parents who abuse their own children.
The Domestic Violence Act has some restrictions for police who are involved in family violence complaints, but the handling of domestic violence cases by police raises two questions. Firstly, do the police have the ability to deal with such cases? Secondly, is it difficult to implement the Domestic Violence Act as it is?
Chairperson, it is true that the new legislation pertaining to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, which was recently signed into law on 12 May 2011, has strengthened the mandate of the Independent Complaints Directorate and has also implemented it. It won't be long before this legislation is implemented to help fight these crimes. In this sense, sections 28 and 12 of the Constitution try to protect children from these crimes. These sections and terms show children as victims of crime and violence or abuse and as being ignored. It is important for the police to investigate these crimes against children properly as they are empowered by law.
Crimes against children are seen as serious as they are regulated by the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act. In the same way, cases of children who have broken the law are dealt with according to the Child Justice Act. The Criminal Law Amendment Act gives terms for sentencing for serious crimes against children, for those who are being prosecuted and sentenced in regional and High Courts. These terms relate to life imprisonment sentences or prescribed minimum sentences if there is no physical evidence to secure a lighter sentence, because physical evidence may justify a lighter sentence. The aim of this law is to make things simple with regard to those found guilty of crimes against children.
Government has formed sexual offences courts to deal with cases of abused, molested and raped children. These are special courts prepared to accommodate children, to allow evidence given by a child with the help of a social worker and everyone who provides assistance. The work of an investigating police officer is very important, especially with regard to gathering enough evidence. Sometimes children can become witnesses in cases where other children are victims and this poses a great challenge for the prosecution and the Police Service.
The Child Justice Act has justice procedures for rehabilitation that include, among other things, protection of children who commit crimes by granting them diversion by referring them away from formal court procedures. The aim of this Act, as it appears in section 2, includes the use of diversion as a way of preventing children from being exposed to the adverse effects of the formal criminal justice system.
Diversion includes removing cases from regular courts where there is enough evidence to prosecute. According to the Act, diversion can be achieved in three ways. Firstly, it is by a way of prosecutorial diversion for minor offences committed. The second way is at the time of the preliminary inquiry, through an order of the inquiry magistrate. Now the Act gives a plan to ensure the same treatment to enforce the law regarding diversion.
Our courts, the community and all those involved must ensure that this Act is completely adhered to and encourage the protection of children. We must educate our people about these important procedures of rehabilitation that involve the care and protection of children. It is very important to realise that this is the first time this change has been included in the criminal justice system. So, the Act tries to clarify the aims of diversion for all who are involved.
That is why subsection 51 states the objectives of diversion as, among other things, to deal with children outside of the formal criminal justice system; to encourage a child to be accountable for the pain they have caused; to meet certain needs of each child; to encourage the reintegration of a child i9nto their family or the community; to give an opportunity to those affected to express their feelings about the impact of an action on them; to encourage compensation for the victim through some symbolic benefit; to encourage reconciliation between a child and a person or community that was hurt by them; to prevent the child being stigmatised and prevent the adverse consequences flowing from being subject to the criminal justice system; and to reduce the possibility of repeating the crime.
Awareness campaigns are very important. We need to educate and make the community aware of the danger of abuse and crime against children. We need to maintain the humanity that says, "Your child is also my child". We need to renew these value and cultures that promote the value of a person's life and the protection of innocent children. All these values are supported by the Bill of Rights.
There are visible achievements by the police with regard to violence and crimes against children, such as the arrests of abusers. While still on this, our courts continue to hand down heavy sentences. Let us build and strengthen co-ordination against crime in our community, community police forums, CPFs, and street committees. Without any hesitation, together we can protect our children. I thank you. [Applause.]]
Hon Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Deputy Minister, member of the executive council, MEC, permanent delegates, colleagues in this august Council, comrades, ladies and gentlemen, receive warm greetings from Mpumalanga, the most beautiful part of our country. [Interjections.]
At the start I want to indicate that only the government of the ANC cares about children. I'm surprised when the hon Faber talks so nicely about caring for children and about the quality of education that is needed to equip our children when they were part and parcel of the regime that imparted inferior education to our children. They were part and parcel of the regime that killed and maimed our children - schoolchildren, for that matter.
Hon Faber, were you in the National Party? I thought you were in the DA from the start?
Fortunately, some of us need to tell the truth.
Over the past several years South Africans have become increasingly aware of the difficulty of ensuring that children are brought up in a way that enables them ... [Interjections.]
Hon Chair, on a point of order: The hon member is misleading the Council by saying that I was in Parliament during the previous regime. I was definitely not. Some ANC members were, but definitely not me. [Interjections.]
Okay, you have clarified that fact. Hon member, continue.
Hon Chairperson, I think hon Faber is misleading the Council because in fact he was part of the security system during that time. He was a police officer.
I'm not going to allow a debate on this.
Chairperson, it's a very serious thing. Can the member confirm that he was a police officer? [Applause.]
No, I am not going to allow that. Continue, hon member.
The Institute of Development Studies in the United Kingdom describes social protection as all public and private initiatives that provide income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect vulnerable livelihoods and enhance the social status and rights of the marginalised with the objective of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups.
In South Africa the attempt to address physical, psychological and social abuse had to be uplifted to address more systemic and intergenerational problems. Truly, a successful society invests its best resources and hopes in the success of its children, which allows me to conclude that children are the future of the present generation. The manner in which we treat our children today is a direct reflection of what our society will look like in the future.
Allow me to unequivocally stress that there is no future without the present. That implies that our behaviour towards our children today will be seen tomorrow when these children are adults. An old Indian adage states: "We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." Therefore there is an absolute need to build a strong social fabric that will strengthen the protection of our children. Apart from government and government institutions, communities, civil society and children, the perpetrators who are threatening the safety of our children must be engaged constructively to understand the root cause of these social ills. Every day children are mutilated, abducted, kidnapped, raped, sodomised and subjected to all forms of ill-treatment, rendering them vulnerable and insecure.
In Mpumalanga a pastor repeatedly raped and impregnated his own biological child, who gave birth to three children as a result. In his defence the pastor quoted the Bible as a book that justified his abominable actions. This is taboo in our society! Yesterday when I was listening to the news I heard that here in Gugulethu a 20-year-old slit the throat of a three-year- old child and hid the body in a suitcase. What is that, hon members?
Last week the "Sunday rapist" admitted to abducting, kidnapping, raping and killing a schoolchild. What is happening in our country? Our society is really sick. Exposure to media and communication technology and devices has overtaken parenting methodologies and has seen children sending and receiving sexually explicit material which endangers their safety. I learnt with dismay from the print media this weekend that 90% of our children have seen porn on the Internet and that the language used in these interactions is codified to such an extent that parents cannot understand the content. It is clear that this is a phenomenon that has become a huge social problem, requiring a collective, communal wisdom to outgrow it.
Among the objectives of the Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005, is the provision of structures, services and means for promoting and monitoring the sound physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional and social development of children; the strengthening and development of community structures that can assist in providing care and protection for children; and the protection of children from discrimination, exploitation and any other physical, emotional or moral harm or hazard.
Madiba once said that any nation that did not care for and protect its children was not a nation. I want to pose a question regarding what Madiba said about what constitutes a nation: Can we respond in unison that we are a nation when we have so many untold stories of child abuse in our country? I think we all know the answer to that.
When one turns around to look closely at our education system, one finds that schools are a breeding ground and the seat for the execution of so much of the immorality against our children. Sexual harassment by the very people to whom we have entrusted the responsibility of protecting our children is rife. Schoolchildren indulge in drugs and many other immoral acts which increase the rate of failure and teenage pregnancy as well as illiteracy levels among our community members, plus many other social ills.
The risk associated with an unsafe school environment is that South Africa will not be able to produce adequate skills required by the workplace, which then translates into high levels of unemployment. Indeed, let us work together to protect our children. There is no doubt that family breakdown is part of a decaying society. On 5 April 2011, the Sowetan newspaper reported that there were 9 million children who were without fathers. The scourge of HIV and Aids has plunged the social fabric of this country into an ever-worsening condition. We are witnessing child-headed families living in dire poverty, with poor educational outcomes, antisocial behaviour, delinquency and few prospects in life. These children are likely to have unplanned children with multiple partners, which brings about another generation born without stable families.
In 2008 about 98 000 children, which constitutes about 0,5% of the South African population, were living in child-headed households where all members were younger than 18. Many children grow up in fractured families. I want to repeat that our country is so ill. Society is so ill. If my pastor were here I would say that we needed an injection from heaven.
The tendency to speak at length about social ills and dovetailing our sentiments with legislation has had little impact on protecting our children. Our communities need us to lead by example, not ride on the back of development and the implementation of government policies. Every individual is required to help change the situation. I envisage a situation where every member will adopt a child-headed family and raise it like his or her own, providing an environment that is safe from drugs, rapists, hunger, poor education, etc. That calls for us as Members of Parliament to roll up our sleeves and be part of our communities.
As I conclude, may I remind this august Council that we are walking to the future on the feet of our children. Without them, there is no future. Let us work together to protect our children. Morena boloka setshaba sa rona, le bana ba rona. [God bless our nation and our children.] [Interjections.]
Chairperson, on a point of order: The reason the hon member was not in his seat is that we have two speakers' lists. I just wanted to clarify that.
Can that be corrected? According to my speakers' list, hon Feldman is the next speaker.
Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, the theme for our debate today is "Working together to protect our children". South African children are under siege on all fronts. According to the South African Child Gauge 2010-11 report released by the University of Cape Town's Children's Institute, 6,8 million children in our country live in households without access to clean drinking water. The report also showed that almost three million of our country's 18,6 million children, who make up about 15,7% of our population, went to bed hungry.
According to a recent written reply by the Minister of Social Development, 8% of children under age 5 in South Africa were severely malnourished. Of those, 13% were found in KwaZulu-Natal and another 10% in the Northern Cape. A quarter of such children lived in these two provinces.
The sexual abuse and murder of children is a big problem. South Africa has among the highest incidence of child and baby rape in the world, with more than 67 000 cases of rape and sexual assaults against children reported in the year 2000. The horrific thing is that child abusers are often relatives, even fathers and providers. These are the people who are supposed to protect children.
The horrendous story of a four-year-old boy beheaded by a neighbour for muti purposes is one of the gruesome acts our children are confronted with. They are deprived of playing outside. They are deprived of being children. Poverty has turned mothers against children. Recently, a mother drowned her five children, three boys and two girls aged 13, 10, 5, 4 and 2, in 20- litre buckets of water.
Hon Deputy Minister, Cope calls on the security forces to act firmly and viciously against all those who terrorise and abuse our women and children. We are also saying our courts must show no mercy when these monsters are found guilty. Millions of our people are still waiting for the Promised Land.
Hon Chair, Deputy Minister, hon members, ladies and gentlemen, it is regrettable to hear that South Africa is among the countries with the highest number of people who abuse alcohol and drugs in the world. We are all aware of the devastating effect that alcohol and drug abuse has on our families, communities, society and the country at large. Worst of all is the effect of alcohol and drug abuse on children in particular.
Children constitute the most vulnerable section of society. Therefore our debate today is opportune and relevant. They require greater protection from all forms of abuse, such as violence and exposure to the social ills of alcohol and drug abuse.
It has become apparent that in recent times more and more children are being exposed to violence, alcohol and drug abuse at an early age than in previous years. Modernity and the advancement of instant, high-speed technology are welcome factors of social and economic development, but these can also facilitate the exposure of children to social ills.
Easy exposure is most certainly facilitated by the fact that children have access to advertisements in various forms of media. At worst, a lack of parental responsibility facilitates such exposure when parents fail to raise their children appropriately and with care, as espoused in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The values of a caring society that protects and develops its children have always been fundamental to the ANC in its quest for a better life for all. Its resoluteness regarding the protection of children is manifested in its support for the constitutional provision that entrenches the right to food, shelter, basic health care and social services, protection from exploitative labour practices, family care - which includes the right to be cared for by the extended family - and alternative care, with the right to adoptive and foster care, as well as the right to be cared for by the state when the child concerned is in need of care. These have in turn been translated into government policies such as the Children's Act of 2005. According to this Act, parental rights and responsibilities include the right to care for the child, maintain contact with the child, to care as a guardian of the child and to contribute towards the maintenance of the child.
Given the legal provision of the Act, it is therefore incumbent upon parents to ensure that children are protected from all forms of abuse. This includes ensuring that they are not exposed to alcohol and drug abuse. In this context, we must support the Minister of Health in his effort to curb the amount of exposure in the media through advertisements.
The ANC Youth League has also embarked on a programme that promotes the protection of children. In their fight against substance abuse, the ANC Youth League noted at its conference that, firstly, a huge percentage of young people are abusing substance and alcohol; secondly, the call for the banning of alcohol advertising by government departments must be implemented through the enactment of legislation making such advertising illegal; and, lastly, that there is a need to increase rehabilitation centres. In addition, the ANC Youth League has implemented a programme whereby alcohol is not sold close to schools in order to minimise children's access and exposure to alcohol.
In conclusion, as part of their responsibility towards children, parents must be encouraged to support initiatives aimed at children. Parents must play a leading role in educating their children about the negative impact of alcohol and drug abuse, while caring for them when they are affected and helping them in rehabilitation. It is the responsibility of parents in the first instance, through education and care, to ensure that children do not use alcohol and drugs.
As Members of Parliament, we must always be available to assist parents in ensuring that children are protected through our constituency and parliamentary offices. Being responsible for the protection of children, as much as it is required of parents, is a social responsibility for all of us. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, Deputy Minister, Chief Whips and the Whips of this House, Speakers and Deputy Speakers present here today, executive council members present, hon members, Salga leadership present here today, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, please receive my greetings from "the platinum province".
Children are not only protected from abuse but also from other harmful aspects of life, like hunger and other types of deprivation. With regard to child protection in the North West province, all alternative care and adoption placements are checked against Part B of the child protection register as well as the sex offender register. We check them against the child protection register for screening purposes. We don't want to find ourselves having handed a child to people who will abuse them more. We are very discreet when it comes to this.
We have also managed to capture hunger cases on the electronic child protection register. An total of 43 675 children are in foster care in the North West, with 6 500 children having been newly placed in foster care. We have reviewed a further 13 000 placements.
The North West province's foster care strategy to reduce foster care backlogs has been successful. We have managed to bring about a zero backlog in one district, Kenneth Kaunda.
A total of 101 temporary safe care placements were screened in this financial year and we intend to increase the temporary safe care fee to the equivalent of foster care as soon as possible. Throughout the province, 75 000 children have been reached through prevention and early intervention programmes such as the child trafficking prevention programme that we introduced during the 2010 Fifa World Cup. We all know how vulnerable our children were during that time.
Furthermore, we have completed a 300-bed child and youth care centre in Mafikeng in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality. We are funding a further six child and youth care centres throughout the province. A centre in the Bojanala District of the province has been accredited to admit victims of human trafficking, including children, and we have managed to successfully return three children to their native land, Lesotho, through this intervention.
We have managed to capacitate 600 social workers with the provisions of the Children's Act and have trained a further 50 auxiliary social workers. To ensure the protection of children in our province, we have employed 500 social workers and absorbed 350 auxiliary social workers to assist with the implementation of the child protection Act. Furthermore, the department has set aside R32 million for child protection in the North West province.
In conclusion, I humbly request that the other departments come to the party with regard to child protection, so that child protection is not perceived to be the baby of only the departments that are directly involved. A child is raised by a village, never by an individual. Ngwana ke sejo, o a hlakanelwa. [In order for us to succeed, we should work together.]
Hon members, for the benefit of hon Adams, QLSCYPD means the quality of life and status of women, children, youth and people with disabilities.
Hon House Chair, Minister, colleagues and members, South Africa has inherited a legacy of social injustices. A large portion of our people face relentless challenges in caring for and creating a safe and secure living environment for their children. Social dislocation, violence and extreme inequality have become a daily reality in the lives of South African children. High levels of domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse and neglect are growing out of control, especially in less privileged communities.
Child protection violations are particularly hard to measure. It is alarming that violence against children is so pervasive and that girls and boys alike are being abused and exploited.
The South African government has succeeded in introducing a progressive legal framework and the expansion of policies that protect children and their rights in this country as well as access to social services. Recent legislative reforms, like the sexual offences Act and the Child Justice Act, shape the basis of a broad child protection framework. Despite legislation protecting the wellbeing of our children, the South African government is still faced with challenges in the struggle for a protective environment for children in our country.
As we recognise the value that children add to our society and our lives, it is crucial that government must focus on investing in our children's future by creating a safe childhood environment where children can be free to be themselves.
Laat my toe om die volgende te s: Ons moet onthou dat die rol wat ons as ouers vandag in ons kinders se lewens vertolk 'n ewige merk op hul lewens en toekoms maak. Kinders is 'n geskenk en daarom moet ons as ouers hulle kan waardeer en trots wees op hulle om sodoende te verseker dat hulle veilig groot word en die leiers van mre sal wees. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Allow me to say the following: We must remember that the role we as parents play in the lives of our children today leaves an everlasting imprint on their lives and their future. Children are a gift, and therefore we as parents should appreciate them and be proud of them to ensure that they grow up safely and become tomorrow's leaders.]
Hon Chairperson, it is a privilege to participate in this important debate today. When we refer to protection there should be no distinction between whether the child is a South African citizen or a foreigner. Too many atrocities have occurred recently - we have noted the rape, death, abandonment and abuse of babies, children and even adolescents. Many of these acts were committed by people known to these children.
Early this year, during the month of June, we celebrated Child Protection Week. The aim of Child Protection Week is to raise awareness and mobilise all sectors and communities towards the holistic development, care and protection of children. As parents, schools, communities and society we must all work together to not just protect our children but campaign for harsher sentences for sex offenders and people who commit horrendous acts against children and who have been found guilty.
South Africa has some of the best legislation in place to ensure the protection of our children. This country is also a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We need to become more aware of the protection that we provide our children and be more vigilant in wanting to make a difference to the lives and protection of children. It is therefore unacceptable that the National Child Protection Register, which was assented to by the President of South Africa in June 2006, contains only one name of a convicted sexual perpetrator against children. Every day an estimated 60 child rape cases are reported. The rights of children are protected in terms of the Children's Act, which must ensure the harmonious development of children while recognising the need for children to grow up in an environment of happiness, love and understanding. All the reports of abuse or deliberate neglect of a child and records of persons who are unsuitable to work with children must be recorded. This is to protect children in general against the perpetrators of abuse.
Children are one of the most vulnerable sectors of our communities. Two weeks ago, a young girl was kidnapped by a person who had been convicted of a number of transgressions against young girls. Yet this man was unconditionally released into society even when his transgressions could have further mutated to the point where he killed and burnt an innocent victim.
Last Monday, three policemen were among those arrested for keeping five underaged girls as sex slaves. This highlights the total disrespect the sexual perpetrators and also other offenders have for the law. One of the most important issues that we have to commit to is to ensure that the Children's Act is fully implemented and that the National Child Protection Register remains updated.
Children must not only be protected from sexual acts committed against them but also from problems such as hunger, disease, homelessness and addiction. Further protection for vulnerable children includes the 24-hour child protection services. A toll-free number for easy referral and residential care for children in child and youth care centres are available.
Another important aspect regarding the protection of children is the investment in the early childhood development, ECD, programme. ECD is one of the most important anchors of the poverty reduction strategy in the Western Cape. This year, 2011, will see 90 000 children throughout the Western Cape having access to ECD programmes. That is why it is also important that all ECD centres must register with the department in order for them to develop and provide children with the best access and support for development and growth.
Children and young people in child-headed households are vulnerable because they have to cope without adults on a day-to-day basis. Generally they have poorer living conditions than other children. Apart from the support and services rendered by the local offices of the Department of Social Development, about 42 funded nonprofit organisations also render services to these children in the Western Cape.
Under the leadership of Premier Helen Zille, the Western Cape government has also taken real action to address the problem of maintenance defaulters. Too often the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children initiative results in speeches being made and T-shirts being handed out. No real action takes place to bring about change in the lives of those affected.
During the campaign in 2010, notable successes were achieved in the Western Cape in the child maintenance campaign during this 16 Days of Activism period. During that period, 71 defaulters were found and 59 arrests were made. About 210 women who did not collect money that was owed to them were traced. Apart from these successes, the campaign also generated awareness and became an incentive for men to pay maintenance. This is important because the livelihood and wellbeing of children depend on maintenance being paid. The Premier of the Western Cape has stated in her 2011-12 Budget Vote speech that her office received many reports from women who stated that their children's fathers have started paying maintenance again for fear of being tracked down and named in the campaign.
In order for us to have a meaningful debate about working together to protect our children, we need to pay attention to the words of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. In the foreword to the South African Child Gauge 2010-11 he said:
As a nation, we have made remarkable progress in building the legal foundation for ensuring children's best interests. Now is the time to put policies of inclusion into action by listening to children and feeding their insights into the way we run our schools, clinics, hospitals, social services, courts and government departments.
We need to shift our focus if we want to address successfully the protection of our children. Opportunities must be created for them to participate in all the spaces that impact on their lives, and this includes having them share the fears they face and listening to their feelings. These can then be addressed, or we can consider what needs to happen, in order for them to feel safe and be protected.
Many children are already playing an active role in sustaining communities and often these communities depend on the work and services provided by these children. These range from caring for sick relatives and maintaining the links between scattered family members. Thus the importance of protecting our children is informed by a wide variety of factors and influences. We must ensure that children are not exploited when they are sustaining families or communities but must be protected sometimes also in order for social cohesion to exist.
It is vital that children are also made aware of what is right and wrong and that the choices they make will sometimes have dire consequences. They must have an awareness that their involvement with things like the making and distribution of pornography involving other children will have grave consequences. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Ms N D SIKHOSANA (KwaZulu-Natal): Hon Chair, hon Minister of Transport, S Ndebele, hon Deputy Minister M M Sotyu, MECs present, and hon delegates, the protection of children is of paramount importance to any society because children are the future of any nation. In South Africa, children's rights are enshrined in the Constitution, but they are nonetheless continuously violated, hence the theme chosen for this debate: "Working together to protect our children".
Social and cultural practices such as ukuthwala - child abduction and early marriage - are often given as excuses for the violation of the rights of children. Ukuthwala is a custom that is mainly practised in some rural communities, for example, in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. These are just examples, I am not saying this is not happening in other provinces too. The practice involves the abduction of girls for marriage, sometimes with the consent of the girl's parents. The practice often affects girls from the ages of 10 to 15 years, without their consent.
This practice impacts negatively, both directly and indirectly, on the development of the girl-child, resulting in social isolation, denial of the right to education, poor life skills, psychosocial harm, early pregnancy and childbirth, as well as the risk of exposure to HIV/Aids. The children affected by HIV/Aids, due to their own infection or because of parental illness or death, are less likely to receive an education, as they leave school to care for ailing parents and younger siblings.
South Africa is also a transit source and destination country for trafficked children. South African girls are trafficked within South Africa for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, while boys are trafficked internally for use in street vending, food service and agriculture.
Child sex tourism is prevalent in a number of South African cities. Organised crime groups, including African, Asian and East European syndicates, together with local gangs, facilitate trafficking into and within South Africa, particularly for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation. These practices continue in spite of the Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005, which clearly stipulates that "every child has the right not to be subjected to social, cultural and religious practices which are detrimental to his or her wellbeing".
There is therefore an urgent need for our society to prioritise the rights and protection of our children to combat the widespread violation of their rights. National government must commit to working collaboratively with all spheres of government and with civil society organisations, particularly at grass-roots level, in educating and developing integrated programmes to fight all the ills that are afflicting our society, in particular the violation of human rights.
In his state of the province address, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Zweli Mkhize, noted that education was the foundation upon which the future of our country would be built. He called on the entire school community to rally behind the education of every child, reminding us of his words from a previous address: "Ingane yakho yingane yami," which means "My child is your child and your child is my child". This campaign has been so successful in some areas - the ones we call "war rooms" - because we are not looking at the child only. The approach is to eradicate poverty, improve health and tackle all the ills I am talking about. Those are the war rooms where everything is focused on prioritising the child and everything the child needs.
To this end, it has been encouraging to see the Department of Social Development, in collaboration with the SA Police Service, conducting awareness campaigns on legislation protecting women and children. The ANC- led government has to be applauded for creating an enabling environment for civil society to participate more effectively. More work still needs to be done to create a caring society that respects the rights of all its citizens. We have heard speaker after speaker talking about some of the challenges that we still face.
Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate the women leaders in the DA who have been newly elected into top leadership positions. In the same breath I would like to commend the ANC Women's League, which has led a campaign for all organisations, including the political parties represented in our Parliament, to begin looking at the issue of women and working towards an equal, 50/50 distribution in appointments. I hope the ANC Women's League will continue to do that and that our sisters in the DA will come and have discussions with the ANC Women's League so that this issue can spread to other parties as well. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon MECs present, members, comrades and friends, while it is an honour to speak here on behalf of my province, I am doing so with a heavy heart. Last week our province made world news again, after the issue of Baby Tshepang made headlines a few years ago and also against the backdrop of little Buhle, who was kidnapped a week ago by people who gave his mother a lift from Warrenton to Kimberley. Another reason for my heavy heart is the issue of the woman who killed her five children in our province. I think the grim details of this family tragedy will one day be revealed in court but what it underlines is that violence against children remains pervasive and is to be found in all communities and in all settings.
It is true that as a country we inherited a legacy of violence, extreme inequality and social dislocation. On the other hand, a key achievement of postapartheid South Africa has been the establishment of a progressive legal framework and adoption of policies that aim to protect children and guarantee their rights to social services. The reality is that in spite of all our collective efforts in our province, 287 cases of neglect, abandonment, sexual abuse and physical abuse of children were still reported in the past year. It is to the credit of the province that we rendered services to 22 406 orphans and vulnerable children, and that no fewer than 16 000 children in the province are in foster care. As a mother, a parent, a community leader and a political activist, I can only ask: Where will it end? When will it all end? Does the biblical injunction not call on us to tend the weakest among us? We should at all times be working together to protect our children.
Previous speakers already mentioned that we need a multisectoral approach, partnerships between government and civil society, and co-operation between all spheres of government, particularly since the challenges facing children increasingly include poverty, unemployment, child abuse and exploitation, as well as the loss of a support system within families. Growing up in a rural community ...
Ek wil s omdat ek van 'n plaas af kom, weet ek dat in die dae toe ons grootgeword het, het almal na almal se kinders omgesien. My kind was jou kind, en almal het saamgestem dat hulle almal verantwoordelik was vir hulle kinders. [I would like to say that, because I grew up on a farm, I know that in my childhood everybody took care of one another's children. My child was your child, and everyone agreed that together they were responsible for one another's children.]
Unfortunately, in many of our communities today, we have lost our way. We have gained political freedom, but we seem to have lost our humanity. We have made it easier for abusers in our midst to flourish, for example when both parents are constantly in a drunken stupor. That brings me to one of the issues that is prevalent in our province, that of foetal alcohol syndrome. All of us know about foetal alcohol syndrome. It is a condition that children suffer from as a consequence of mothers using alcohol during pregnancy.
The Northern Cape department of social development, or the Northern Cape government, funds 39 Isolabantwana and Neighbour Helping Neighbour programmes, with a total of 439 volunteers who render awareness and prevention programmes on child protection. These volunteers receive a stipend of R750 per month, and funding is provided for awareness programmes. The department, or the government, also funds eight children's homes in the province, including the Kinderherberg Trust in Kamieskroon, Bright Lights in Pofadder, Tsholofelo in Danilskuil, Jannie Roux in Barkly West, Sinothando, Kestell Kinderhuis, as well as the Christina Kiddie and Helen Bishop Homes in Kimberley. We are also funding the Thusong centre in Kimberley, a centre that was founded by women who saw the need for children working and living on the street to be provided with shelter.
Like it has on so many aspects of our lives, the HIV/Aids pandemic also has an impact on children, resulting in more and more child-headed households. The increasing number of deaths of parents and caregivers compromises the care and protection of children. Children are either left to fend for themselves or are left in the care of relatives or grandparents who themselves are either too ill or too old to cope. These children become vulnerable and may be predisposed to abusive behaviour because of their vulnerability. In the province, we have rolled out the Isibindi Project. It is a child protection programme for children and families infected with and affected by HIV/Aids. No fewer than 5 816 children under the age of 13 years received services from this programme last year, while 1 605 youths and 619 families also benefited.
The services are rendered by trained child and youth care workers and include caring for children infected with and/or affected by HIV/Aids, access to documents to ensure that applications for grants and pensions are submitted, family preservation, enrolling children in school, empowering children with life skills, and stipends for staff empowered in the programme. Although there is still a lot that needs to be done, the programme was implemented in the communities of the Xun, the Khwe, Greenpoint, Donkerhoek, Lerato Park, Soul City, Colesberg, Paballelo and Port Nolloth. Chairperson, you will know that some of these communities count among the poorest in our province.
As can be seen, the province is continually committing itself to rendering holistic, integrated services for the protection of children. Research in South Africa and internationally indicates that the early years of childhood are critical for development. Early childhood development, ECD, aims to protect the rights of children so that they can develop independently and realise their full potential. It is an integrated process whereby children, from birth to schoolgoing age, develop physically, mentally, spiritually and morally. This phase is therefore the most vulnerable and most important phase for overall development in a person's lifespan.
The challenge for government is to break the cycle of poverty and make sure that those who are underprivileged have access to basic stimulation, development and education. Early childhood services remain key in fighting poverty. Our department in the province is funding 436 ECD facilities, benefiting 21 670 children. In turn, 174 practitioners who have obtained a National Qualifications Framework, NQF, level 4 qualification are also paid a stipend of R1 320 per month, as part of our job creation strategy, thus boosting the socioeconomic profile of poverty-stricken areas.
As the MEC for environmental affairs, I would really be failing in my duty if I didn't say anything about the issue of the environment. Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa guarantees that we must have sustainable natural resources, protecting the rights of children to a clean and healthy environment for the benefit of their future, and thus we have the responsibility to ensure that there is a clean environment conducive to the wholesale development of our children.
We should at all times be working together. We need a holistic approach, a programme of action to turn the tide of hope and to protect our children. We need to improve our monitoring and reporting on child protection violations. Letting matters slide because the perpetrator is known to us - sometimes it is family - is just not good enough. We need to consciously mobilise the necessary commitment, expertise and resources from all sectors in our society to ensure that the child protection system works. We need to stand up and challenge social acceptance of violence, as seen in many of our township communities.
As ons s my kind of jou kind is my kind, dan het ons almal 'n verantwoordelikheid om te s: Van nou af sal ons seker maak dat ons almal die geringstes onder ons - ons kinders, ons toekoms - beskerm en bewaar. [If we say that my child or your child is my child then all of us have a responsibility to say: From this day on we will ensure that we protect and treasure the smallest amongst us - our children, our future.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members, special delegates, including those from the SA Local Government Association, Salga, ladies and gentlemen, it is with great regret that I stand here today, as our country is now ranked among the most unequal countries of the world. This inequality manifests itself in the extreme poverty which, unfortunately, mostly affects our children because of their vulnerability. They, in turn, are subjected to the various forms of abuse which most of the members have talked about here and which we hear about in the media on a daily basis.
Our debate today is about how we as a society can seek to change the situation and create a better world for all. As I say this, I want to refer to hon Faber, who was right when he said that our country was still plagued by child labour. But I want to ask one question. We are here because we seek to change our society. Who are the people who employ children? If we look and check the statistics, we will realise that child labour happens mostly on farms. Who owns the farms? [Interjections.] Let me leave it there but I'd like members to think about it and make sure that this does not continue. [Interjections.]
I want to talk briefly about poverty. When poverty strikes families, the youngest family members become its most innocent and vulnerable victims. That is why I talk about the children on farms. The parents do not own the land and the children don't attend school. They then have to work on the farms because of their vulnerability caused by poverty. Poverty causes lifelong damage to children's minds and bodies, turning them into adults who perpetuate the cycle of poverty by transmitting it to their children too. Poverty is the main underlying cause of millions of preventable child deaths each year.
The reason millions of children go hungry, miss out on school and are forced into child labour is their vulnerability caused by poverty. Investment in children is the greatest guarantee for achieving equitable and sustainable human development. I think the Minister referred to that when she mentioned education. This is why poverty reduction must begin with the protection and realisation of the rights of children.
Since 1994, South Africa has made important progress towards alleviating poverty through an array of policies and programmes. One of these is the social grant programme. I'm not going to go into detail; I just wanted to share with my comrades what impact poverty has on children.
The ANC is a party that stands firmly and resolutely for the protection of the rights of children. Its policies are anchored in the belief of building a caring, open and democratic society based on the ethos of equality and freedom where the poor and most vulnerable are a priority in terms of empowerment, state assistance and the enforcement of human rights. The ANC's policies are based on the belief that the best interests of the child are paramount in everything that we do in our society. This is manifested in the priority given by the ANC government to programmes that are aimed at addressing child poverty through measures such as providing safety nets and dealing with child murders, disappearances, abuse and neglect.
Ms Hartnick, you are correct, we need to make sure that the register assists us because the information that should be contained in the national protection register must warn of the possible abuse of children and must identify those who have actually been abused. We must be able to find the names in this register of persons who are unsuitable to work with children because of their record. So, I believe that this government is going to make sure that we concretise this and make sure that the register works for our people.
This brings me to the next point, that re re bommago bana ba swara thipa ka bogaleng. [women are brave].
According to records revealed in 2007, 41,5% of women in Mpumalanga are unemployed. It is my belief that women understand more about children and that our empowerment of these women will ensure the safety of children.
Let me talk about the noble values contained in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the Republic. These rights, among others, are for children. I won't talk about all of them. Let me talk about the one that deals with family and alternative care, specifically the right to adoptive or foster care and to be cared for by the state where the child concerned is in need of care. We have backlogs, hon Minister, in child care. Most of our rural people don't know how they can help these children. Because of the HIV and Aids pandemic, most parents leave their children but, unfortunately, these children reside with their families who do not know about the foster care and adoption processes. Adoption is still expensive. That is one area we still have to look into, so that the relatives at home do not have to suffer when they can be assisted in caring for young kids who have been orphaned.
Hon Faber also talked about a lack of access to early childhood development, ECD, programmes. I must say that the Department of Social Development has responded very positively by developing a comprehensive strategy on ECD. That process is working as we speak.
Let me say something about childhood development. A rapid appraisal and analysis indicate that there is a range of ECD services at community and household level that have elements that support ECD policy goals for children from birth to four years of age. Now, you will find that in rural areas people just say they have an ECD centre. These people need education. We need to educate our rural people to understand how ECD should work. In so doing we must come up with funding and regulations to bring the ECD services programme into the mainstream. We must incorporate ECD into the mainstream. Services incorporating them are guided by the Children's Act.
Another thing we need to make sure of is the recognition of prior learning. We know that our parents are educators by nature. They raise children with the natural knowledge they have of assisting children. Are we going to assist them by recognising their prior knowledge? This is one thing that we must do. We must look at those areas, especially the rural areas, where we have people who are doing this job and make sure that we capacitate them more. We must make sure that we work together with the local governments so that our people understand what ECD is about and so that they become capacitated and certificated. That's all I wanted to say on ECD. It's very important that we talk about this. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Chairperson, Minister Ndebele, welcome and good luck with your debate on transport, especially as we are headed towards the busy festive season.
Ndiqinisekile ukuba mna nawe siza kudibana apha endleleni, mna ndisilwa nabaphuli-mthetho. [I am sure we will meet along the way, I will be dealing with the criminals.] [Interjections.]
Minister Ndebele is saying that criminals are always using transport. [Laughter.]
It is sad to be told at the very moment when we are debating this matter that a child has been kidnapped in Lenasia, Gauteng, only a few minutes ago. It is bad.
I would like to thank all members who participated in this debate. It was very interesting. I listened to all members and discovered that we were really prepared for this debate. We mentioned legislation, machinery that has been put in place by the ANC since 1994 and the grey areas in these pieces of legislation. This means that we as Members of Parliament need to review some of these legislative clauses in order for us to be able to implement them.
Thank you, chairperson Mabe, for identifying the role that is being played by the NGOs in society. I know there are many NGOs that tirelessly assist our communities in fighting the scourge of child abuse within their ranks.
Hon Van Rooyen and hon Faber, the interdepartmental approach by all sister departments is of vital importance, of course, and we have correctly identified that. Child labour, as was mentioned by members here, is a crime, but in order for us to know where this crime is happening, we need you to tell us which farmers are doing that. Then we will definitely arrest them, with the help of the Department of Labour.
Ntate Mofokeng, ke dumellana le wena ka tse ngata tseo o di emisitseng, haholoholo ha re tla tabeng ya hore re fumana tharollo jwang hore re kgone ho sebedisana mmoho le setjhaba. Ke dumellana le seo o se buileng, ha o ne o re mohlomong re hloka ho tiisa tsebo ya sepolesa ka hara sepolesa. Sepolesa se tle se tsebe hore se etsa eng ha se tobana le diphephetso tseo se kopanang le tsona twantshong ya botlokotsebe, haholo bo amang bana. Dintlha tseo o buileng ka tsona tse mabapi le se etsahalang ka hara porofensi ya Foreisetata ... (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[Mr Mofokeng, I agree with a lot of the issues that you have raised, especially when it comes to the matter of how we go about finding a solution to working together with society. I agree with what you said when you said that perhaps we need to emphasise knowledge within the police so that they have enough information as to what to do when they are faced with challenges that confront them in the fight against crime, especially with regard to children. As for the issues that you have mentioned in relation to what is happening in the Free State province ...]
... we have taken note of them. I also indicated in my speech that on top of the recruitment of skilled people that we are engaged in, we must have our own police officers retrained on how to handle cases of child abuse, especially children who have been raped.
Ma Ngobeni from Mpumalanga - a beautiful province, of course - you are right. I agree with you that cyber crime is getting out of hand. When we introduced cellphones, laptops and computers, it was for good purposes. Unfortunately, Minister Ndebele, we got ourselves into trouble because they are not being used for the good purposes that they were meant for. Once your child starts clinging to the laptop or jumps up whenever you enter the room, you must know that there is a problem or that he or she is engaged in mischief.
Hon Feldman, you spoke about the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units, their role and the kind of people who are being deployed in those units. I was in the Eastern Cape a few weeks ago. I was looking at the list of police officials who had been deployed to handle cases involving children and I discovered that most of them were men. I asked senior management why they had about 70% men handling those cases. The senior women who were in that meeting told me that they had a problem with deploying women who were already in the system to those units because most of them were saying that if they were sent there, as mothers, they would kill those criminals and be sent to prison themselves. We are now starting afresh. We are getting outside people who have the special skills needed to handle children who are affected by this kind of crime.
Mr Mokgoro, indeed, families have a bigger role to play in bringing up their own children. Parents must be their own children's role models. You can't be a role model xa uvuka ekuseni uthume umntwana ukuba aye kukuthengela iibhotile ezimbini ze-Black Label if the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is to send a child to go and buy two bottles of Black Label for you and then expect to build a person of good character out of that child.
O ke ke wa roma ngwana wa re ho yena: "Tloho le bojwala mane, ntlele Black label, hoseng a tsoha feela". [You can't send a child on an errand and say: "Go and get me some alcohol. Bring me a Black Label, first thing in the morning".]
Then you expect to build a human being out of that child! You will never build a human being that way.
MEC Mokomele-Mothibi, thank you for highlighting the role that is being played by the Department of Social Development and all relevant sister departments in your province.
Hon Hartnick, as police leadership we are saying that we shall arrest even our own members if they are found to be in conflict with the law. Hence we mentioned that members of the police have been arrested. Indeed, we did arrest certain officials for rape and child abuse in this financial year. Credit must be given to the ANC-led government, which came up with the famous 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. [Applause.] This campaign should be a 365-days campaign focusing on the same issue.
Hon Sikhosana, those who hide behind ukuthwala and abduct a minor will be arrested and charged with kidnapping and rape. You cannot expect a 10-year- old child to be a woman. If you do that, we will arrest you and charge you with rape.
Hon Sylvia Lucas, my friend and comrade, you mentioned the killing of five children by their own mother. I agree with one member who said that we are living in a sick society, because the person who is supposed to protect them is the one who decides to kill them. There is no other way of responding to this incident than to say that we are living in a sick society.
Somebody spoke about the adoption of children. If you don't want your children, give them up for adoption. We have families that find it very difficult to have their own children. Let us not kill our children - rather give them up for adoption.
Hon Boroto, I agree with you that our people need to be educated about their rights, especially those on farms in rural communities. When they are being forcefully raped they think it is a man's right to do that because he has something they don't have. It is not a right. As politicians and public representatives, it is our role to teach people about their rights. We also need to teach our people about the issue of farm labour.
Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi! [Let the name of women be praised! [Applause.]
Debate concluded.