25 Nov 2018

Parliament has learnt that the Children’s Act of 2009 identifies children who have been subjected to any form of abuse as among those in need of protection.

As such, the act further provides that a report be made to police officers or a social worker where there was reasonable case to believe that a child was in need of protection, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said.

She said children did not have to wait in cases where there was need for immediate protection, even when the occurrence happened after working hours.

“This is derived from Section 44 of the act which provides that either officers can effect the immediate removal of a child to a place of safety if they have reasonable found to believe that a child is likely to suffer harm if he or she is not removed,” she said.

She said the ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Childline  Botswana, which operates a 24-hour crisis line manned social by workers and accessible across all networks.

She said it had increased opportunity for intervention at all times.

She further said there was no anomaly in violating the act as the aforementioned officers worked in shifts while Childline Botswana operated 24 hours crisis line, managing the crisis.

She further said where there was need social workers placed such children at available places of safety whilst investigations continued, including individual and family counselling as well as referrals to specialised services such as psychologists depending on the nature of the matter.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskings Nkaigwa had asked how social workers addressed cases of child abuse that happened after normal working hours.

He had also asked the minister to state when the government planned to address the anomaly which violated the Children’s Act, and if there were measures in place to address cases of child abuse that occurred after hours and during weekends. ENDS