Opposition parties lambasted government on Thursday, during a special debate marking Child Protection Week in the National Assembly, for not doing enough for South Africa’s children.
Mike Waters of the Democratic Alliance (DA) said only 128 additional police officers had been placed at child protection units (CPUs) during the past six months.
”But since there were at least 693 vacant positions, this means that 565 Child Protection Officers are still needed at existing CPUs. What’s more, there are areas in this country that do not have such units whatsoever,” he said.
”Now if one looks at the Mitchell’s Plain CPU, for example, which has a shortage of 85 members, it will take 29 years — or until 2032 — before reaching current optimal levels if the government continues at this slow rate.”
This was totally unacceptable and an insult to the country’s children.
Another aspect the DA would not tolerate was the lack of training.
”If, as we often hear, child abuse is considered a priority crime, why then have only 47%of all CPU officers been trained in child protection?
”Surely, given the nature and sensitivity of these crimes, the government would have ensured that a child’s first line of defence was impeccable,” Water said.
The New National Party’s (NNP) Adriaan van Jaarsveld said the social development portfolio committee approved and adopted the United Nations Optional Protocol on the Rights of the Child in August last year.
”This protocol has not yet been signed — so how serious are we in our efforts to become a world partner in the fight against child abuse.
”As there is a significant increase in the international trafficking of children for the purpose of selling, child prostitution and child pornography, it is essential that a wide network of countries should be part of an effort to eradicate these despicable acts against children.
”This protocol will really contribute to the implementation of those steps that will provide a better life for all children, not only our South African children, but children all over the world,” Van Jaarsveld said.
Nonhlanhla Nkabinde of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) said the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute estimated that 11-million children, more than half of all South African children, were living in poverty in 2002.
”It’s time that government puts in place a comprehensive plan to address hunger, instead of ad hoc food parcel distribution only when the problem of malnutrition makes headlines in the media.
”The time for promises and lame excuses is now over; specific goals on health, education, safety and poverty eradication for improving the lives of children must be set and achieved,” she said.
However, African National Congress (ANC) members of Parliament listed numerous steps taken by government to improve the lives of children, including child grants, free medical care, and child protection legislation.
Deputy Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Cheryl Gillwald rejected Waters’ arguments, saying 445 additional child protection officers had already been allocated and would be placed as soon as they completed their training.
Also, 71 additional vehicles had been allocated to CPUs.
Current child protection programmes were a clear indication of government’s commitment and intention to deal with the problems, Gillwald said.
Social development portfolio committee chairperson Cas Saloojee said the draft Child Protection Bill would also go a long way towards protecting children’s rights.
”We’ve not, and we do not intend to, betray our children,” he said. – Sapa