Social Development

In support of Child Protection Month 2026, the Department, through its funded non-profit organisations and service delivery partners across the province, implemented a range of child protection and family strengthening initiatives aimed at promoting the safety, well-being and rights of children. These interventions included community awareness campaigns, educational programmes for children and youth, parenting and caregiver support initiatives, school-based engagements, positive parenting programmes, child rights advocacy, community dialogues, marches and outreach events, as well as activities aimed at strengthening protective environments for children. The programmes focused on raising awareness of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, gender-based violence, substance abuse and other risks affecting children, while also empowering children, parents, caregivers and communities with information on prevention, early intervention, reporting mechanisms and available support services. These initiatives were implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders, including schools, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations, the South African Police Service, local municipalities, health services and other government departments, reflecting a collective commitment to ending violence against children and strengthening family and community-based care and protection.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) Western Cape implements the 365 Days Child Protection Programme of Action, which promotes continuous awareness and prevention of child abuse throughout the year, with intensified efforts during Child Protection Month and Child Protection Week.

     These programmes prioritise:

• Mobilising communities to actively protect children.
• Strengthening social cohesion.
• Promoting the reporting of abuse.
• Equipping children with life skills, knowledge of their rights, and personal safety awareness.

DSD service delivery areas, designated child protection organisations, and stakeholders have been implementing a comprehensive range of Child Protection Month activities from 03 May 2026 to 07 June 2026 across the Western Cape. These activities include stakeholder training, targeted awareness-raising campaigns addressing specific child protection issues at the community level; child protection educational programmes highlighting the rights of children, therapeutic programme launches; community marches and imbizos involving civil society organizations, the government, and municipal departments such as the City of Cape Town (CCT), Department of Health (DOH), Western Cape Education Department (WCED), faith-based organizations and the South African Police Services (SAPS).  These interventions are expected to reach children, caregivers, community members, health care workers, and civil society across all regions in the province.

DSD Western Cape has reinforced awareness and advocacy initiatives aimed at preventing and responding to child abuse, sexual exploitation, statutory rape, and teenage pregnancy. This is achieved through the following:

• Identification and reporting mechanisms by means of mandatory reporting via Form 22 and Form 23.
• Investigation and case management systems such as SWIMS.
• DSD Western Cape further provides:
• Psychosocial and therapeutic support services to affected children in collaboration with designated child protection organisations such as Childline South Africa, Safeline, Trauma Centre, etc.
• Funding to designated child protection organisations (DCPOs) that deliver child protection and specialised services, namely Jelly Beanz, Nonceba, Patch, Trauma Centre, Safe Line, etc.
• The Department has also increased funding allocations for the 2026/2027 funding cycle to strengthen and expand child protection services and programmes across the province.

DSD Western Cape has specific prevention and early intervention programmes throughout the province aimed at strengthening families, promoting child well-being, implementing mandatory reporting procedures, addressing risk factors at an early stage, and enhancing multi-sectoral collaboration aimed at promoting the safety, protection, and well-being of children. These services are designed to support children and their caregivers, enhance family functioning, and reduce circumstances that may necessitate the removal of children from their family environment.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development remains committed to leading and coordinating child protection services within the legislative mandate by convening government departments, non-profit organisations, community-based structures, and other key partners across the province at the WC DSD Child Care and Protection Forum Meeting held quarterly.