Child hotline services activated
Children who are being bullied in or outside of school are urged to make use of the hotline.
Various child protection hotlines were launched in the Nigel and Heidelberg areas on April 11 and 12.
Danie van Loggerenberg, who has been working closely with schools for 12 years, saw and heard about the amount of bullying taking place in schools and decided to do something to help.
“I launched the Child Protection Hotline in 2019,” van Loggerenberg said.
“Whether children are being bullied in schools or outside, they could use the number by calling or messaging, and we’ll be able to help them.”
On April 11, van Loggerenberg launched the 72nd, 73th and 74th hotlines.
Van Loggerenberg launched these hotlines by visiting various schools in the area and talking to learners about bullying.
“Bullies can only be bullies if they are accepted,” he told learners at Alra Park Primary School.
“You all have a duty to your fellow learners to stand up to bullies. If you stand together and stand up to a bully as one, you take the bully’s power away.”
Van Loggerenberg also promised the learners he would give them all Christmas presents this year through his company, Toys for Africa.
“I will do this for them if they honour our bargain and when there is no more bullying in the school,” he said.
Children who are being bullied at school or worried parents can also ask for help by using the hotline.
Van Loggerenberg said each branch has a lawyer, counsellor and security for backup.
Once the organisation has received a call, the information is passed on to the police and the Department of Social Development, who investigate the claim.
“Our hotlines are available via SMS, Whatsapp and phone calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any child or grown-up to report child abuse, neglect, bullying, trafficking or anything related to children who need help,” he said.
The team visited Hoërskool John Vorster, Nigel Secondary School and Laerskool Tini Vorster on April 12.
Child Protection Hotlines are available in the following areas:
• Alra Park: 060 468 3756
• Nigel: 079 245 2433
• Duduza: 079 018 3557
• Heidelberg: 079 525 8461
