Advocating children’s rights
'The South African government has the best interests of children at heart' – social worker.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development has encouraged parents to register their newborn babies and make sure they are safe and nurtured.
Hitekani Mabasa, the West Rand Region’s social worker said the announcement comes after they had to place a child, who was abandoned by its mother, at the Child and Youth Care Centre.
The South African government has the best interests of children at heart. This is evident in the child protection mechanisms such as domestic legislation and international instruments that the country has ratified as a commitment to the protection of children’s rights,” Mabasa said.
She added that the Children’s Act of 2005 highlights children’s rights and some of them include the following: the right to a name and nationality from birth, family or parental care, basic nutrition, shelter, basic health-care and social services, and a right to good-quality education.
“Those rights are found in section 28 of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of South Africa. The Gauteng Department of Social Development will continue to support, care for and protect children,” Mabasa added.
