19 Jun 2013

Parents have been advised to discard harmful traditional practices that do not serve the interest of their children.

Speaking at the African child commemoration day in Moroka recently, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele said the day provided an opportunity for government and other stakeholders to renew their ongoing commitments towards improving the wellbeing of children, particularly vulnerable ones.

He said Day of the African Child also raised awareness on issues that concerned children. Mr Siele said the day was set aside by the African Union as a remembrance of the 1976 Soweto uprising where school children protested against the use of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools.

Mr Siele noted that children`s rights to fully participate in cultural life were recognised by the African charter on the rights and welfare of the child. Furthermore, he acknowledged and appreciated people and their diversity that had been identified as a vital catalyst towards national unity and tolerance for each other.

“It is however, also equally important to balance the preservation of custom and culture and with need to uphold the dignity and protection of children,” he said. 

He said government had put in place laws, policies, guidelines and other blueprints to protect children adding that these continued to be reviewed and new ones developed to address the emerging needs. Minister Siele said the Adoption of Children`s Act was under review, while the child protection protocols were also being developed.

He said structures and institutions had been put in place to facilitate the implementation of these laws and policies adding that they were still creating child friendly structures and training service providers in dealing with sensitive child protection matters. Ends