28 May 2019

Custodians of children’s rights should be radical in the protection of children’s rights, in the best interest of the child.

  This was said by the Mmatshumo and Orapa social welfare officer Ms Kgalalelo Joao during a children’s workshop in Letlhakane recently.

She said the Children’s Rights Committee needed to have the willingness to go an extra mile with Boteti social ills because children experienced a lot. 

Ms Joao pleaded with parents not force religion on children but to rather teach the essence and importance of going to church.

 She said positive parenting was critical to tackling the complex issues of contemporary children.

For her part, Ms Boemo Bato also a social welfare officer, explained that child neglect was a state of failing to provide a child’s basic needs.

She described the four types of neglect as physical, medical, educational and emotional.   

On the physical aspect, she said, a child should be provided with basic needs, appropriate clothing, mentoring and a safe clean home.

She said education was a basic necessity for a child but in most  cases, the disabled such as the dyslexic and deaf were neglected.

On parental duties, Ms Bato said  parents were expected to provide guidance to children according to their age, maturity and level of understanding.

Parents, she said, was expected to seek professional advice, including from family members and community leaders. 

Ms Bato said parents should also encourage children’s participation in household decisions and actions.

Assistant Superintendent Phillimon Mpubulusi said the Letlhakane Police Station had handled 10 cases of defilement since January to date most of which were reported from hospitals and schools.

The cases he said were taken to court and during the proceedings, victims refused to give evidence, and at times they would say they were forced by the police.

Senior social welfare officer Ms Mmonie Makobye said thorough public education had to be done to address defilement as there was usually no evidence. 

One of the participants said the issue of child protection was frustrating to teachers as it was usually handled by family members. ends