Child Protection Hotline (CPH) continued to excel in its quest to keep children happy and safe with the launch of its Boksburg hotline in Sunward Park on Tuesday, April 20.
The founder of CPH, Danie van Loggerenberg, explained that the first hotline was launched in September 2019. He and his team have, however, been working within the children’s industry since 2010.
He stressed that parents/guardians and even children who seek their help by contacting the hotline either through a call, SMS or WhatsApp, will receive help for free.
“Excluding data and airtime costs, our service at the hotline is free. We partner up with corporate companies that allow us to help children for free. We are always looking for new partners and our ideal partners would be companies that share our passion for children,” he said.
CPH is an NPO and 24-hour service, which works to protect children from any type of abuse and protect the culture of children’s rights in the country.
How it works
Van Loggerenberg explained: “Once a call, SMS or WhatsApp reaches us, we assess the information received. If a parent calls the hotline, our first intention is to listen. Listen to what the parent says. We will ask questions based on what is said.
“We will then confirm the contact details of the parent and SMS or WhatsApp them a set of basic questions. This includes the name of the child or children, the age or ages of the children and their address.
“We also ask whether there have been previous reports and any case numbers.
“Importantly we also ask for the contact person to confirm their relationship to the child and their contact details. Upon receiving the answer to the basic questions, we can now contact the correct authority to assist the child. We then put the correct authority in contact with the parent.
“We believe that by doing it this way, we ensure that the parent can focus on their child or children and do not need to stress about who should help them or about not getting hold of the correct people within the jurisdiction.
“The answers received are also sent directly to the correct authority. Although the report is now handed over, any parent can continue to make contact with us to follow up.”
CPH partners
“We do work closely with the SAPS and the various social workers from the different organisations. We also enjoy the services of attorney partners, Touch of Hope and their founder Elmarie Pretorius and Mediators Incorporated, as well as their CEO, Odette Read.
“We are always open to take hands with other organisations, as it is all about helping children in the best and quickest way.
We will always stay within the laws and specifically the Children’s Act.”
Children can also seek to assist themselves
“Children without guardians can send us an SMS or WhatsApp and we will gladly assist,” continued van Loggerenberg.
“Most children do not enjoy phoning and speaking to a stranger, so we have tried our level best to offer our services in a child-friendly manner.
“We cater for all different and imaginable scenarios. So when I mention the correct authorities, when a child is hit by a car, we contact emergency services. If a child is allegedly raped or beaten, we contact SAPS.
“If a child is being shouted at daily and mom and dad try to alienate the child from each other, we contact the social workers.”
The value of a child
“I am a father and I see children as the most valuable part of my life after my relationship with Jesus. They are these amazing little humans that only know how to love and care and they are brutally honest.
“They mimic our behaviour and only want to be fed, played with and loved. They are that easy. If we can show children that we love them, they will mimic that love and our country and the world would be a better place.
“As a country, we have made many mistakes and the last thing we can afford is to not stop and take notice of what we teach our children. To have the opportunity to positively influence them is one that should never be missed.”
Also Read: Anxiety in Children
Child Protection Hotlines
National 076 900 7151
Centurion 071 192 0569
Pretoria 060 808 2261
Pretoria East 060 562 8043
Pretoria North 066 433 8818
Pretoria West 072 683 9856
Moot 064 604 9254
Soshanguve 066 506 1749
Hammanskraal 079 092 2570
Olievenhoutbosch 071 594 3572
Laudium/Erasmia 064 790 9327
Midstream 083 709 7608
Midrand 060 820 9875
East Rand 071 523 9215
Boksburg 066 557 7124
Alberton 064 931 5139
Greater Palm Ridge 066 387 1564
West Rand 060 819 3897
North Coast 076 169 7813
Brits 072 408 8864
Harties 072 086 5854
Boitekong 082 487 0654.
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