Witzenberg incident calls on all of us to work together to protect vulnerable children
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) is aware of a case in the Witzenberg area of a child who was allegedly raped in two separate incidents.
While we cannot speak to the investigation as that falls under the mandate of the South African Police Service (SAPS), psychosocial support services (including counselling by social workers) are being carried out by one of DSD’s partner NGOs in the Witzenberg region. DSD social workers had previously worked with the child in 2022, before her case file was transferred to the respective NGO. The department has written to the provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety to request her to enquire from the SAPS on the progress with the investigation.
When the matter was raised again with the department last week, we followed up with the organisation about its recent interventions to better understand what had transpired. We will continue to closely monitor the case. The organisation has provided us with a report detailing the various interventions it has implemented since February 2023 to support the child. We cannot divulge any further details.
The department has also worked on finding a suitable place of safety for the child where she can receive further support services. The placement is ready but will eventually be determined by a court.
Provincial Minister Londt said, “The organisation dealing with the case has a solid track record of rendering psychosocial support services. Based on the records provided, it seems they did everything they could to support this child over the last two years.”
It is important to emphasise that while DSD works exceptionally hard to prioritise the needs of the victim, we have an even greater duty of care when we are supporting children in matters such as these.
“Tensions are understandably running high in the area, but naming the child on social media is unacceptable, and rather than helping causes further harm. Thank you to the leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature who asked one of their councillors to remove the child’s name from a social media post. We must prioritise her safety and wellbeing before anything else. I ask that we work together to protect her and all other vulnerable children.”
Minister Londt added that this incident is another reason why the rollout of the Social Work Integrated Management System Application (SWIMS App) is so important. This app is currently being used by over 1 000 DSD social work professionals to log cases on a secure online network.
“Last week I announced that we allocated R4 million for the further development, rollout, and training of the SWIMS App to the NGO sector. We currently have one NGO being trained to use the app, but we wish to get this to more organisations so that social workers’ cases can be digitised. In this way, cases are easier to keep track of, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. I call on the private sector or anyone else that can assist in helping us ramp up this groundbreaking application to get in touch with my office or the department.”
Minister Londt has also reached out to A21, one of DSD’s funded NPOs who specialises in combatting human trafficking, including sexual exploitation, to partner with the local municipality and the department to create awareness about all forms of victimisation.
To access more information about support services offered by the Department for victims of Gender-Based Violence, call our toll-free number on 0800 220 250, send an email to SD.CustomerCare@westerncape.gov.za or visit the department’s website: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/social-development/service/victim-empowerment-programme
Media Enquiries
Monique Mortlock-Malgas
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Jaco Londt
Department of Social Development