EDITOR – Durban Child and Youth Care Centre would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the many members of the community who throughout 2016 provided us with support through a wide variety of donations and voluntary services.
With NGOs still under financial threat, this support lightened our struggle, ensuring that we could focus on providing our children with the care they require. Further to the above, we noted a growing interest from the community regarding the needs of children requiring support.
Shortly before Christmas, a concerned member of the community contacted us concerned that there was a teenage boy lying on the pavement outside the entrance to our organisation. A conversation then ensued about the boy, which made me realise that without some understanding of the policies concerning children in South Africa, perceptions are made based on a snap shot of what is a far more detailed and often complex process which is unfolding.
Child and Youth Care Centres (formerly called Children’s Homes) must by law (the Children’s Act) be registered by the Department of Social Development. There is a specific process which the Act sets out that must be followed in order for a child to be placed in a CYCC. Failure to comply with this process is then an offence.
It is for this reason that we are not able to take in children off the street. We are legally required to follow the process and in doing so are reliant on others along the chain to respond appropriately. If a member of the community who may have seen or sees things happening in or around our centre which raises concerns, please feel free to contact us for clarification.
Mandy Goble
Director
