01 Jul 2015

North West District councillors have been urged to join hands with public servants and play their role in the implementation of the Children’s Act which aims to safeguard the rights of children.

The Assistant Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso, made the plea when presenting the 2009 Children’s Act to the councillors.

She said they should be committed to strengthening the implementation of the Act which promotes the well-being of children, provides for their protection, and care, articulate roles and responsibilities of parents and community responses.

In addition, she explained that the act forbide exploitation of children and set penalties for offences against them. She raised a concern about some children who are denied the right to education and such children are engaged in child labour.

Ms Tshireletso said the practice should be stopped as it violates the rights of the innocent child and also disturbs his or her growth. She said the Act states that every child has to be protected against harmful labour practices.

Furthermore, the assistant minister took a swipe at some parents, especially women, who deny children access and care from the other co-parent, father and vice versa, adding it is an offence to do so.

She said children have the right to proper care and protection from both parents, even if they were born out of wedlock.

She said even if the parents are not living together but they should jointly care for their child. She said the Act allows the biological parents of the child to enter into a co-parenting agreement.

She warned that if found guilty, the offender could be fined P2 000 or serve three to six years sentence or both.

Fathers were advised to familiarise themselves with the Act so that they could play their part towards the growth of their children.

Ms Tshireletso also advised parents to give their children names they would not be ashamed of when they grew up. She explained that the Act states that children should be given names which give them dignity and respect.

She also talked about the right to protection against sexual abuse and exploitation. She said incidents of sexual abuse of minors and child negligence is worrisome, noting that some relatives end up impregnating the children.

She urged political leaders and the community at large to report such incidents so that the perpetrators could be punished accordingly. Ms Tshireletso revealed that any person, who sexually abuses or exploits a child, shall be guilty to an offence and liable to a fine.

She said government has taken a decision to shut down some children centres because they were abusing children. She also emphasised the need for the public to form children protection committees in order to safeguard the rights of children

For their part, councillors assured the assistant minister a great support towards the implementation of the Act.

They said the Act has been in place for so long but the implementation was not satisfactory.

Councillor Abel Molelo complained about some parents who remove children from school to look after their siblings.

Councillor Morobela Ledimo agreed that indeed some parents give children undesirable names which lowers their dignity and assured the assistant minister that as leaders they will sensitise their communities about the Act. Ends