04 Mar 2015

Principal social welfare officer in Kanye Mr Ogomoditsemang Seleme says it is a crime not to report cases of child abuse.

Mr Seleme was responding to a health official stationed at Kgwatlheng Clinic in Kanye who had wanted to know the position of the law on the matter during a Child Protection workshop hosted by the Department of Social and Community Development in Kanye recently.

Suspicious cases should be reported to either police or social workers who shall then make a follow up on the issue, he said, adding that failure to do so was a contravention to Section 43:13 of the Children’s Act.

“This section stipulates that any person who without reasonable cause fails to report a case of a child in need of protection shall be guilty of an offence and shall be sentenced to a fine of not less than P5 000 but not more than P10 000,” explained Mr Seleme.

Ms Georgina Ramosukwane, another Kanye based principal social welfare officer said a weak referral system as a major factor as those reporting abuse were not accorded assistance forthwith.

“Rather than offering the service accordantly, service providers will refer you to another office; something that fuels child abuse,” added Ms Ramosukwane.

She said in addressing the gaps, government should strengthen its referral system and categorise child abuse cases as urgent and appoint special officers to deal with them.

For his part councillor Simon Ramaphoi of Gasita urged stakeholders to collaborate and maintain a proper working relation to stop child abuse.

“Sensitisation of adults in remote areas is also critical since some of them still uphold cultural practices that are exploitive,” he added. ENDS