By Mpho Sekharume
South African Communist Party (SACP) Secretary-General (SG), Solly Mapaila, intensified the growing friction between his party and the ANC during his address at a provincial Chris Hani commemorative event in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
Mapaila’s address signalled a significant departure from the traditional unity of the Tripartite Alliance by directly challenging the current administration's integrity.
He warned that the state faces an existential threat if executive accountability is not enforced immediately, whilst insisting that institutional delays are being exploited to facilitate the wholesale liquidation of South African public assets.
Mapaila further positioned the SACP as the primary bulwark against the privatisation of the energy sector. He alleged that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is working in tandem with international lenders to compromise national sovereignty.
“We welcome this Constitutional Court judgment. This impeachment must move fast because if it is delayed, we will have no government infrastructure, as everything would have been sold.
“The GNU government wants to sell Eskom. They want to put Eskom in the market, and they think we don't know that. They are collaborating with the IMF. That will never happen as long as we are alive in South Africa.
“They are people who have even been told to run Operation Vulindlela, business people. They are right inside the Presidency; they are sharing the resources of this country. It's a new form of state capture, and they are now even selling water to the people,” Mapaila explicitly said to attendees.
By labelling Operation Vulindlela as a new form of State capture, Mapaila effectively accused the Presidency of prioritising corporate interests over the poor. This public condemnation suggests that the rift between the SACP and the ANC leadership may be reaching a point of no return as local government elections loom.
Minister Gayton McKenzie pledges action against corruption in the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation while restoring funding to vital arts projects.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) last week released its latest list of projects supported by the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE), revealing that funding has been reinstated for at least two major events — the Cape Town Carnival and the National Arts Festival in Mkhanda. However, this move comes amid lingering controversy over what critics describe as an “opaque” selection process.
Despite the release of the list, both the department and Minister Gayton McKenzie have yet to provide Parliament with a full account of the R110-million MGE budget. Specific details regarding individual award amounts and the criteria for panel selection remain strictly “confidential”.
McKenzie’s decision in September 2025 to defund major festivals triggered a wave of chaos across the sector, leaving landmark events in a catastrophic lurch after their financial lifelines were abruptly cut.
In a move that drew heavy criticism, McKenzie directed these organisations to seek support from the MGE fund instead. This guidance proved problematic, as it later emerged that MGE resources had never actually been earmarked for festival support, leaving many organisers stranded without a viable fallback.
On Friday, McKenzie announced the findings of a forensic investigation into the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), which showed “extensive financial irregularities” for more than a decade.
The seed for CCIFSA was planted after a 2009 meeting between then president Jacob Zuma and members of the cultural and creative industries. Afterwards, the DSAC set up two task teams to develop a framework for the federation supposedly representing 12 identified sectors and 45 subsectors. The first budget in 2014 was R5-million.
CCIFSA fell under the protection of the then minister of sport, arts and culture, Nathi Mthethwa and for years failed to account for funding or its work and has been viewed as a platform for political manoeuvring.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AV_00017688.jpg "Jacob Zuma shares a toast with Nathi Mthethwa, as Zuma celebrates his 70th birthday at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on 12 April 2012. (Photo: Antonio Muchave / Gallo Images / Sowetan)")
The investigation that McKenzie announced, conducted by Gobodo Forensic and Investigative Accounting (GFIA) on behalf of the department, unpacked R51.8-million in public funds transferred to CCIFSA between the 2014/15 and 2023/24.
Some of the rot unearthed included an irregular contract addendum signed in March 2016 that increased an original CCIFSA funding agreement by R772,884 with “no submission, no justification and no proper approval”.
Unspent funds of R5.4-million as of the end of the 2016/17 were not returned to the department as required, instead being used by CCIFSA to fund its operations during the years in which it had no valid contract with the DSAC.
The department’s director-general, Dr Cynthia Khumalo, has been instructed to begin “appropriate processes” against departmental officials identified in the report.
The department will now refer the report to the Auditor-General of South Africa, the Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks for further investigation.
Lara Foot, celebrated CEO of the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town, was prompted to respond on Facebook: “CCIFSA, who does not employ or create employment for artists, has mismanaged and essentially stolen R57 million, whilst real NPO’s and independent theatres receive nothing!”
McKenzie drew the ire of the arts, theatre and cultural community in September 2025 when he defunded landmark events like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Makhanda National Arts Festival, stating they should “stand on their own feet”.
The National Arts Festival lost R5.5-million in state funding after McKenzie withdrew support. Monica Newton, the CEO of the festival, said that the 50-year-old event had initially been excluded from the MGE funding model as it had fallen outside the department’s narrow time requirements.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/ED_511184.jpg "A scene from the 2024 National Arts Festival in Makhanda. (Photo: Alet Pretorius / Gallo Images)")
To survive, it had relied on continued support from the Eastern Cape provincial government and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality in 2025. It also maintained partnerships with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Standard Bank.
While questions are still being asked about some of the organisations and projects that have received MGE funding, well-known artists such as singer and producer Loukmaan Adams and David Kramer received support.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/David-Kramer-picture-by-Jesse-Kramer.jpg "Singer, songwriter and playwright David Kramer. (Photo: Jesse Kramer)")
Last week, the department released “strict compliance guidelines” for the new grants, while facing intense political backlash, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) accusing McKenzie of mismanaging MGE funds and avoiding parliamentary oversight.
The DA has accused the MGE adjudication panel, appointed by McKenzie, of behaving “with open defiance” during an appearance in Parliament.
The panel is chaired by the national spokesperson of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Marlon Daniels, whom the DA has accused of having “no demonstrable professional background or recognised expertise in the arts, culture or creative industries”.
Since McKenzie’s shock announcement last year, it has emerged that the MGE had never been created to fund large arts and cultural festivals.
“After personally defunding established festivals across South Africa, the minister explicitly advised organisers to apply to MGE instead, creating the clear and reasonable expectation that this was an appropriate and viable funding route,” said DA MP Leah Potgieter.
/file/attachments/2991/Screenshot2026-05-10181119_665406.png "DA MP Leah Potgieter. (Photo: Parliament SA)")
The economic fallout from cancelled and downsized festivals had cost local economies close to R1-billion in lost tourism revenue, jobs and supplier income, she said.
McKenzie’s “misapplication” of existing funding programmes led to “severe financial consequences” for large arts and cultural festivals, which were directed to apply for MGE grants, even though the programme was not designed to support them.
Previously, some MGE applicants told Parliament about “unfair treatment, inconsistent decision-making, and funding being awarded to deregistered or non-compliant entities”.
Some of the biggest names and brains in the cultural sector in the Western Cape participated in an important discussion, The Future of Arts Funding: Sustainability, Innovation and Collaboration, which kicked off the annual Suidoosterfees, now in its 23rd year.
The panellists included Cornelia Faasen (CEO of Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief, NATi), writer Dominique Enthoven, Beth Arendse (CEO of Business and Arts South Africa, Basa) and Marlene le Roux (CEO of Artscape), with broadcaster Africa Melane moderating.
/file/attachments/orphans/ED_335139_552014.jpg "Cornelia Faasen, the CEO of Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief. (Photo: Deaan Vivier / Gallo Images / Beeld)")
Panellists focused on the “critical and urgent need” to rethink arts funding, noting that despite contributing at least 1.4 million jobs and 4% of the national GDP, the creative sector was often excluded from major investment conversations because current models prioritise “need” over “value”.
Basa’s Arendse said arts funding was “in crisis”, not due to a lack of money but because “old funding models are no longer fit”.
“There is capital,” she noted, “but the value of the arts is not clear to investors. We keep leading with need, rather than designing models that unlock value. Investors are just not seeing it.”
Artscape’s Le Roux highlighted the huge administrative burden attached to government funding and noted that compliance processes could be arduous for those who lacked capacity. The panel agreed that while artists were central to the cultural ecosystem, they should not be burdened with seeking support.
This, said Enthoven, should be the responsibility of “intermediaries and cultural stakeholders” who could build frameworks that would make sustainable funding possible, allowing artists to “just be able to create work”.
Faasen noted the arts sector continued to function “largely driven by passion”; however, this could be “significantly strengthened” through more coordinated government and private sector support. She highlighted the potential of inter-ministerial collaboration, particularly between trade and industry, tourism and innovation.
She cautioned that new regulatory frameworks, while “welcomed in principle”, could place additional burdens on artists. She called for greater social protections, including pension schemes and medical aid support, noting the lack of a safety net for many in the industry.
Le Roux echoed the importance of labour organisation within the sector, encouraging artists to unionise and organise “especially in light of new regulations”.
Faasen cited the Festival Enterprise Catalyst project, a model that deployed “match funding” to enable productions to travel across a network of partners, extending the lifespan of creative work. Project partners included the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, the Suidoosterfees, the Toyota Woordfees, Aardklop, Samro, Concerts SA, NATi and the Tribuo Arts Platform.
While those who tackle the gargantuan task of organising and running massive annual festivals and cultural events were barely swimming when they were hit by McKenzie's defunding wave, CCIFSA, it turns out, has been spending as if there were no oversight — which, of course, there wasn’t.
The GFIA forensic report contained further financial information, said McKenzie on Friday, that “misrepresented funds intended for the Downtown Music Hub” as CCIFSA’s own operational funding.
Downtown Music Hub (DTMH) is located in a landmark recording studio in Johannesburg that was given a makeover in 2015 to provide studio time to aspiring and established artists.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/CBT-inner-city-programs-2.jpg "The Downtown Music Hub is a cutting-edge music facility dedicated to supporting the growth and development of professionals in SA’s music industry. (Photo: Piwokuhle Motha)")
The investigation found DTMH funds totalling R3-million “comingled” with CCIFSA’s funds in a single bank account. R10-million, the first tranche paid to CCIFSA for the Ushering In a New Era awards, “cannot be properly accounted for, as no supporting invoices or proof of payments were provided”.
Over and above this, a budget submitted by CCIFSA in support of a recent funding application reflected an administration fee of 32% of the total allocation — more than three times the 10% stipulated in the applicable agreement.
These administration costs consisted primarily of salaries and payments to CCIFSA executives.
McKenzie said the report had been shared in confidence with the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture and with the Auditor-General as part of the department’s accountability obligations.
This article was originally posted by The Daily Maverick
The recent Supreme Court of Appeal ruling on the Van der Vyver Transport case shone a long overdue spotlight into the chaos and maladministration that thousands of workers experience time and again at the Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Fund (CF).
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is heartened that the Supreme Court called for an independent investigation into the deeply worrying state of affairs at the CF.
This is a demand that the Federation has been making for many years.
Employers experience endless challenges when attempting to register their employees with the CF, be it online or in person.
This results in many employers simply giving up and leaving their workers unprotected should they be injured or even die during the course of their work.
When workers apply for relief after a workplace injury or disease, all too often they are not met with relief or assistance, but endless queues, bewildering red tape and outright bureaucratic indifference.
A visit to anyone of the Department of Employment and Labour’s Labour Centres will show workers in desperate need of urgent relief, subjected to days of endless queues and even then, they may still not find the help they need and are entitled to by law.
Countless workers reach out to Cosatu and employers for assistance to unlock these bureaucratic obstacles. We have seen time and again workers battling to access relief for years at a time.
Tragically the same shameful experience is felt by workers when applying for their Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.
Newspaper headlines have shown time and again how workers’ UI and CF contributions when invested to generate interest to ensure the sustainability of these two important Funds, being treated as a slush fund for corrupt politicians, officials and businesspersons. Whilst there has been some progress in tackling the scourge of corruption and state capture in the Funds, by no stretch can we say this battle has been won.
These painful experiences undermine the progressive objectives of the Funds and the tireless efforts of the majority of their staff to ensure that workers and their families receive the relief they are entitled to timeously.
The Funds are a key anchor of South Africa’s social security umbrella with the CF providing compensation to workers injured or who have been affected by a disease during the course of their work as well as their families in the event of their death.
Recent progressive amendments to it have extended cover to more than 1 million domestic workers as well as relief for workers affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (important for security personnel as well as mineworkers and women who experience gender-based violence at work.
Proposed amendments in the current labour law reforms include extending such cover to atypical workers, e.g. actors, performers and platform employees.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) provides severance pay for workers who’ve lost their jobs, reduced time relief for workers at struggling companies who may not be able to pay salaries whilst undergoing restructuring as well as maternity leave pay.
Recent amendments included providing paid parental and adoption leave as well as maternity leave for mothers who experienced still born births and third trimester miscarriages.
As with the CF, new proposals include extending UI protection to atypical workers such as Uber drivers plus doubling severance pay from one to two weeks per year worked.
As we saw during Covid-19 when the economy was placed under lockdown, the UIF played a key role by releasing over R65 billion to help 5.7 million workers take care of their families, prevent millions of job losses and stimulate economic growth.
What was also brought to the fore during COVID-19 were how archaic the UIF and CF systems were and remain.
Subsequent reports by the Auditor-General how shown how these porous systems enable corruption inside and outside the Funds to take place.
They have been at the heart of why employers struggle to register their staff and why workers have to queue for days and still battle to receive their relief.
COSATU has raised this matter time and again with government at Nedlac, in Parliament, in bilaterals and publicly over the past six years.
Business and the broader labour movement have echoed these calls.
We have called upon the Department and the Funds to put in place a process to cleanse, overhaul and modernise these Funds, to ensure employers can register employees with ease and workers can receive their full relief without hassles.
Business offered to design a system free of charge for the Funds. The Government Technical Advisory Centre provided a comprehensive diagnosis of what needs to be done. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) offered to build a new system for the Funds as it had done during the Mandela Administration.
Yet these offers have been blue ticked by the Department.
Instead, once a year the Department appears before Nedlac with a PowerPoint presentation on how the Funds will definitely be fixed over the next two years with an exorbitant price tag for consultants attached. Similar PowerPoints are trotted out before Parliament with incredulous 90% delivery targets claimed!
Yet a visit to any Labour Centre today is a painful reminder that workers in their most desperate moment of need will be subjected to shameful delays and red tape to access what is legally theirs. Many simply give up.
This is simply unacceptable and should not be tolerated. No amount of perfume can make this experience for workers smell nice.
The path to fixing the Funds is not complicated.
They require competent management, the removal of corrupt and criminal elements, the filling of vacancies and hiring of critical skills, investing in infrastructure, especially IT and putting in place modern, user friendly, transparent, accessible and corruption proof systems.
SARS must be enlisted to design and set these up.
We cannot continue to accept nor tolerate these abysmal state of affairs. Workers deserve better. Government must act and be seen to upholding workers’ hard-won rights.
This article was originally posted by The Business Report
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is beginning its final week of public hearings on Monday before the submission of its second interim report.
The commission is expected to submit the report to the president on 31 May 2026, with proceedings scheduled to resume after the submission.
A new witness is expected to take the stand to give evidence relating to the disappearance of drugs while under the custody of law enforcement authorities.
Last week, proceedings focused extensively on the 2021 theft of 541 kilograms of cocaine from the Hawks' offices in Port Shepstone.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona was once again implicated at the Madlanga commission last week, this time in relation to his handling of the theft of cocaine from the Hawks' offices.
Testimony from a senior Hawks officer and a retired officer suggested that Senona was linked to several irregularities in the handling and storage of the drugs.
The witnesses told the commission it was highly irregular for the drugs to be stored at a Hawks office that had been broken into seven times between 2011 and 2021.
Madlanga commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the commission will continue along these lines today.
“The Madlanga Commission’s hearings in the week ahead will continue to focus on drug seizures by South African law enforcement agencies, as well as the handling and theft or disappearance of narcotic substances in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.”
The witnesses also testified that from the moment the drugs were seized, it appeared there was already a plan in place for them to eventually be stolen.
This article was originally posted bt EWN
A drawn-out and highly public impeachment inquiry into the Phala Phala scandal could prove deeply damaging to the ANC if President Cyril Ramaphosa refuses to step down.
This is the view of political analysts as the landmark Constitutional Court ruling is expected to dominate discussions when the ANC’s top seven officials meet on Monday. This while the DA, the ANC’s largest GNU partner, has signalled it will no longer shield the president.
The apex court ruled on Friday that the National Assembly’s vote in December 2022 declining to refer the Section 89 Independent Panel’s report to an Impeachment Committee in terms of parliamentary rules was inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid, and set it aside.
The report from the panel led by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo found that there was a prima facie case of wrongdoing by the president relating to the undeclared US dollars that were found and stolen from his Phala Phala farm in Bela-Bela, Limpopo.
Following the judgment, EFF national chairperson and chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu wrote to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza demanding clear timelines for the establishment of an impeachment committee.
Vuyo Zungula, leader of the African Transformation Movement, which joined the EFF in approaching the court, said his party would also be writing to Didiza regarding the implementation of the ruling.
In a statement, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said they should not be expected to shield wrongdoing.
Shortly after the judgment, the ANC said it will support Parliament Speaker Thoko Didiza and the National Assembly in ensuring compliance with the judgment and applicable parliamentary rules.
Director of Surgetower Associates Management Consultancy and political analyst Siseko Maposa said the political implications of a sitting president facing an impeachment inquiry would be significant.
“The inquiry itself becomes the centrepiece of the political landscape. It consumes governing bandwidth, weakens the president’s leverage over Cabinet and coalition partners, and provides opposition parties with a sustained political platform,” he said.
“The DA was once the loudest voice demanding accountability over Phala Phala. Now it has a direct political interest in preserving Ramaphosa’s tenure in order to maintain coalition stability."
Despite the pressure, he said Ramaphosa is unlikely to step aside voluntarily, as that could trigger a destabilising succession battle within the ANC.
“That would ignite an immediate and potentially turbulent ANC succession contest and weaken the party ahead of the local government elections,” he said.
“Instead, the best course for both Ramaphosa and the ANC is likely to be procedural delay.”
He said the ConCourt’s order for Parliament to amend Rule 129(1), which governs impeachment proceedings, could buy the president more time.
“The ANC may insist that those amendments must first be finalised before any serious Phala Phala hearings proceed. That buys time, potentially enough to push meaningful consideration of the matter beyond the local government elections,” he said.
Speaking in an SABC interview, analyst Sipho Seepe said if the proceedings of the impeachment committee take long there will be political fallout.
“Politically, once you start going through that process, that will be rigorous, cross-examining, there will be a lot of embarrassment.
“And effectively, you will have a head of state who will have to answer. For the ANC this could not have come at a worse. It comes at a time when support is declining, in every by-election it is not doing well and other parties are encroaching,” he said.
NMU lecturer Ntsikelelo Breakfast said Ramaphosa may already be weighing up the option of resigning rather than allowing a prolonged parliamentary process that could inflict further damage on the ANC.
“You will remember that previously there was no committee specifically focused on the presidency. Now there is, and it exists to hold that office accountable,” he said.
“He will be required to account for what happened, and it will become a political battle because opposition parties will want to extract political mileage from the process. It will be ugly.
“So there will be a part of him thinking he should just throw in the towel rather than put his party through this.”
Breakfast argued that the ANC, already facing declining electoral support, may struggle to weather another damaging political crisis.
“The ANC is already terminally ill, so he may not want to drag it through this whirlwind because if a finding is eventually made against him, and it is not far-fetched to say he was off the mark, it will be devastating,” he said.
He added that the party’s leadership would also be calculating the impact such a process could have ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
“Some may argue that his term is nearing its end and he should be allowed to finish it. But others, especially those sidelined from Cabinet, may say they cannot wait because the local government elections are approaching and he will become the face of the party,” he said.
“How is the ANC supposed to recover electorally when this issue is going to dominate the political battlefield?”
This article was originally posted by IOL
As Child Protection Month launches this week, we are reminded of children like Joshlin Smith who remain missing years after disappearing.
Joshlin Smith was six years old at the time when she disappeared from her Middlepos home in Saldanha on February 19, 2024.
Child Protection Month is a national campaign which aims to promote the rights, safety, and well-being of children in South Africa, and the theme for 2026 is: “Working together in ending violence against children”.
The National Department of Social Development said the initiative is increasingly critical, as children continue to experience abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm across households, schools, communities and digital platforms.
The department kicked off this month with a launch held at the Prince Mangosuthu Sports Field, eDumbe, in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to the National Child Protection Register, first to third quarter statistics for the 2025/26 financial year show 8,984 cases of child abuse and 3,258 cases of sexual abuse recorded.
The Department of Justice’s statistical records show an increase in statutory rape to 199 for the 2025/26 financial year as compared to 127 in the 2024/25 financial year.
Children committing statutory rape is also a concern, noted with 22 reported cases, whilst 890 children committed rape. 129 of the rape cases involved victims under 18 years old.
The Acting Chief Director of Communication of the Department, Sandy Godlwana, said the 2026 Child Protection Month will be focused on strengthening statutory rape case management, as well as identification, reporting, investigating and provision of therapeutic services. It aims to provide a coordinated multi-sectoral framework for the prevention and management of statutory rape cases to ensure the child victim receives immediate protection and ongoing psychosocial support.
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“A special focus will also be given to strengthening responses to statutory rape, given rising teenage pregnancies and persistent gaps in mandatory reporting and case handling as the country continues to experience high levels of gender‑based violence, child sexual abuse, and increasing rates of teenage pregnancy,” Godlwana said.
While children are among the most vulnerable within society, they continue bearing the brunt of violence from adults.
Earlier this week, a 21-year-old man killed a three-year-old girl because her mother, a domestic worker, did not ‘clean properly’ despite his grandmother being the woman’s employer.
In Limpopo, a two-year-old girl was kidnapped from her home during the early hours of Saturday, May 2.
Omphile Sethole was taken from her home in the Ga-Mabuela Village.
Last week, two newborn babies were dumped on the cold and wet streets of Cape Town.
“In many instances, the perpetrators of such abuse are not strangers, but individuals known and trusted by the child. These include family members, parents, guardians, and acquaintances who are expected to safeguard the well-being and dignity of children. Instead, society continues to witness deeply concerning cases where those entrusted with the care and protection of children misuse that trust and subject children to abuse, neglect, and harm,” he said.
Monakali said this ongoing reality reflects a grave injustice within communities and highlights the urgent need for stronger protective interventions, accountability, and social support systems centred on the safety and well-being of children.
According to recent SAPS quarterly crime statistics for the 2024/2025 reporting period, 315 children were murdered within three months, while 490 cases of attempted murder against children were recorded. During the same period, 1,944 children were victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Statistics South Africa has further indicated that rape accounts for approximately 38% of all reported crimes committed against children, while common assault and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm account for nearly 45% of reported crimes against minors.
“These figures paint a deeply concerning picture of the levels of violence, abuse, and trauma confronting children across homes, schools, and communities in South Africa. The responsibility for safeguarding and supporting the well-being of children has, in many instances, been unfairly shifted onto teachers, educators, and schools, particularly within township and rural communities where social challenges are often most severe,” Monakali said.
Further stating: “In communities heavily affected by gang violence, substance abuse, domestic violence, and crime, these patterns frequently manifest within schools themselves. Learners are often exposed to violence and trauma both within their communities and educational environments, yet many schools, particularly in township and rural communities, remain under-resourced and insufficiently equipped to provide the psychosocial support and trauma-informed interventions required to adequately support vulnerable children.”
Monakali said child protection requires more than awareness campaigns. He said it required coordinated intervention measures, strengthened community-based support systems, improved access to social workers and healthcare services, public education, and policies that prioritise prevention alongside protection.
“As the country observes Child Protection Month, Ilitha Labantu calls for renewed focus on strengthening child protection systems, addressing gaps in support services, and ensuring that vulnerable children and mothers are met with accessible, responsive, and evidence-based interventions,” he added.
From October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, the Western Cape Department of Social Development received a total of 1,957 reports of child abuse.
According to the department’s spokesperson, Esther Lewis, the top three categories of abuse reported were:
Lewis told IOL that the Western Cape currently has over 43,000 children in foster care. In addition, 2,800 children have been placed in non-profit organisation (NPO) run child and youth care centres across the province.
Section 28 of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution states that every child has the right ‘to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
When reporting abuse, members of the public will be urged to complete Form 22 as per the requirements of the Children’s Act.
Form 22 is a legal document used for the mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, sexual abuse, or deliberate neglect. It is completed by professionals (teachers, doctors, police) or community members to initiate an investigation by the Department of Social Development, a designated child protection organisation, or the SAPS.
Safety parents also provide temporary care for no more than six children, unless the children are siblings, for up to 90 days.
According to Lewis, the Western Cape Department of Social Development currently has 233 registered safety parents in the Cape Metro and 226 registered safety parents in the rural regions such as the West Coast, Eden Karoo, and the Cape Winelands/Overberg region.
“The Department is always actively seeking to recruit safety parents to ensure an adequate spread across the province, for when the need arises. Prospective safety parents should be mindful that emergency removals can take place at any time of day, and can involve children of different ages.
“When children are removed from their homes, they can be placed with safety parents for up to three months while the social worker conducts their investigation. Their findings are presented to the Children’s Court, who will then rule on whether the child is in need of care and protection. The court will also rule on whether the child should be placed in foster care,” Lewis said.
Children are placed with foster parents with a court order, for up to two years at a time.
“After two years, the court will rule on whether the order should be extended, or if the circumstances allow for the child to be placed back with their biological parents/ caregivers,” Lewis said.
The Department of Social Development calls on eligible people who have a love for children and are willing to be part of the safety net for vulnerable children to visit their nearest office to find out more.
“While being a safety parent is a temporary measure, you can be part of making a huge impact on a child’s life when they need it most,” Lewis added.
If you are a child or a parent who needs help, or you’d like information on becoming a foster or safety parent, please call the DSD toll-free number 0800 220 250 or visit your nearest DSD local office.
This article was posted by IOL
