Education
With reference to section 110(1) of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005):
(1) What monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place to ensure that all
departmental employees comply with the provisions of the Children’s Act in
reporting suspected cases of sexual abuse and statutory rape involving
children;
(2) whether his Department provides training to staff on the reporting
requirements stipulated in the Act; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(3) whether his Department has policies, directives or standard operating
procedures in place to report cases of girls who give birth to the relevant
authorities in terms of the Children’s Act; if not, why not; if so, what are the
relevant details?
My department has informed me of the following:
(1) All cases of sexual abuse are referred to the Department of Social
Development (DSD)/designated child protection organisation via a Form 22.
Psychosocial support is provided by the Circuit-Based Support Team (CBST)
social worker and, in cases where long term therapy is needed, referrals are
done to Childline, Rape Crisis and related non-governmental organisations
(NGOs). The Form 22 cases are monitored by the CBST social worker. Monitoring
and evaluation are in place with the respective role players e.g. Western Cape
Education Department (WCED) CBST, DSD, South African Police Service (SAPS),
Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) and related NGOs through case discussions and
feedback sessions.
All cases of sexual abuse are also referred to SAPS In terms of section 54 of the
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007
(Act 32 of 2007), as amended.
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(2) The details are outlined in the reply to question 12 of 14 November 2025.
(3) It is where abuse is identified, the Abuse no more Protocol is followed.
