WESTERN Cape MEC for social development Patricia de Lille, yesterday unveiled a plan of action to fight rising child abandonment in the province.
This followed an emergency summit on Monday to find solutions to the problem.
The plan includes an awareness campaign around child abandonment, improved sex education among the youth and the need for fathers to be more responsible and to pay child maintenance.
Support for community care workers and volunteers will be increased, while partnerships between government departments, nongovernmental organisations, business and civil society need to be strengthened.
De Lille said such a working relationship should have "measurable objectives and transparent responsibilities".
"No plan of action would be complete without a comprehensive strategy to educate all stakeholders and the public about the legal obligations contained in the Children's Act 2005 as amended . the act must at all times be our guiding force," she said.
Reflecting on the conference she said community care workers had shown "incredible passion and devotion . when it comes to the provincial and national project of rebuilding the social fabric of our society".
On Monday De Lille called on government, civil society, religious leaders, the media and other stakeholders to work together to solve the growing problem of child abandonment.
De Lille said for every child abandoned and reported on by the media, her department had to deal with 50 similar cases.
She said there had been a steady increase in child abandonment incidents, with 430 children reported abandoned by March this year.
Her department had a budget of R400million to deal with the problem, which is compounded by alcohol abuse and poverty, among other factors.
Big Shoes Foundation chief executive of Michelle Meiring said 30percent of children in places of safety had been abandoned.
Premier Helen Zille urged men, in particular, to start taking responsibility for the children they make.
Plan to ensure welfare of kids
WESTERN Cape MEC for social development Patricia de Lille, yesterday unveiled a plan of action to fight rising child abandonment in the province.
This followed an emergency summit on Monday to find solutions to the problem.
The plan includes an awareness campaign around child abandonment, improved sex education among the youth and the need for fathers to be more responsible and to pay child maintenance.
Support for community care workers and volunteers will be increased, while partnerships between government departments, nongovernmental organisations, business and civil society need to be strengthened.
De Lille said such a working relationship should have "measurable objectives and transparent responsibilities".
"No plan of action would be complete without a comprehensive strategy to educate all stakeholders and the public about the legal obligations contained in the Children's Act 2005 as amended . the act must at all times be our guiding force," she said.
Reflecting on the conference she said community care workers had shown "incredible passion and devotion . when it comes to the provincial and national project of rebuilding the social fabric of our society".
On Monday De Lille called on government, civil society, religious leaders, the media and other stakeholders to work together to solve the growing problem of child abandonment.
De Lille said for every child abandoned and reported on by the media, her department had to deal with 50 similar cases.
She said there had been a steady increase in child abandonment incidents, with 430 children reported abandoned by March this year.
Her department had a budget of R400million to deal with the problem, which is compounded by alcohol abuse and poverty, among other factors.
Big Shoes Foundation chief executive of Michelle Meiring said 30percent of children in places of safety had been abandoned.
Premier Helen Zille urged men, in particular, to start taking responsibility for the children they make.
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