Picture: (Justice department regional spokesperson Thabo Seadira)

THE Justice department’s North West region is on a campaign to visit schools to meet with parents and various stakeholders in a bid to ensure the safety of children.

The visits started at Hyse Park in Vryburg.

The department’s regional spokesperson, Thabo Seadira said the campaign will go on until June 2.

“The department together with Justice Crime Prevention Security cluster and other stakeholders such as FAMSA, Khulisa Social Solutions and Bophirima Youth Development Programme launched the campaign with parenting skills seminar. We are targeting single parents and child headed households.

“We want to raise awareness on child protection. The department is striving to put the interest of children forward. We are commissioned to advocate for justice. Among other responsibilities is to promote the rules of the law,” he said.

Seadira added: “It is important to participate in the 2016 Child Protection Week in response to this noble call of caring and protecting the rights of children. We also want to empower parents. We provide them with skills on how better to raise children. Community members from around Vryburg came in numbers to be capacitated with much needed skills.

“The parents also aired their views regarding challenges they are faced with.

Some of challenges raised were children who want to dictate their parents regarding their child support grant money,” he said.

Challenges of bullying are also highlighted with parents expected to take a leading role in safeguarding their children.

“We are also aware that children are victims of cyber bullying. They are also exposed to explicit online content that is not suitable for their age group. We urge parents to be more cautious because all that can destroy their minds.

“We will continue with our series of outreach campaigns across Dr Ruth Mompati district and its local municipalities during this week. We also visit primary schools, childhood development centres including people living with disabilities,” Seadira said.

One of the residents, Daphney Davids said: “We urge justice department and other government departments to organise a seminar where we could address parent and child issues. We are happy about the strides demonstrated by government in building our families.”

Health department representative, Lucia Sakwane said: “We urge parents to ensure that they feed their children accordingly. Most of young children die due to malnutrition. We want to encourage parents to follow immunisation plan at all times. It is imperative to ensure good health plan for children.

Mpho Moeng from SASSA also made a strong plea to parents to make sure that they use child support grants for conducive child upbringing. She said SASSA implemented stringent actions against those who are using child support grants for their personal interest and gambling.

Any related child challenges can be raised on a national toll free number which is 080 00 55 5 55.

-TDN

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