The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has issued an urgent appeal to residents across the province to become 'safety parents,' emphasizing the critical need for temporary emergency homes to care for children.
This call, made by Minister of Social Development Wendy Kaiser-Philander, is part of the Safety Parent Awareness Program during Social Development Month.
Safety parents provide a vital support system by offering temporary care to children removed from unsafe conditions while necessary child protection procedures are carried out.
According to DSD communications officer Esther Lewis, DSD social workers removed 760 children between April and September alone. This figure does not include additional cases of child removal conducted by independently appointed child protection organizations.
Current Capacity and Demand by Area
Minister Kaiser-Philander previously noted the distribution of registered safety parents: 226 in rural areas and 233 in the metropolitan area. However, the total number of registered safety parents in the province stands at 597.
Lewis notes that the ratio of safety parents to children is rarely one-to-one, as homes often need to accommodate groups of siblings together. The demand for temporary placement covers the entire province, not just isolated hotspots, with the highest demand being for adolescents aged 13 to 17.
When a local safety parent is unavailable to take in a child in a crisis situation, backup measures are activated. Depending on the circumstances, children are placed in Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) or handed over to reliable relatives who undergo suitability checks.
To ensure that every placed child enters a safe and nurturing environment, potential safety parents, as well as all adults living in the home, undergo thorough vetting:
Legal Screening:
Candidates and all adults residing at the facility are screened in accordance with Part B of the National Register for Child Protection under the Children's Act.
Background Checks:
Candidates are required to obtain a full police clearance certificate.
Housing Assessment:
DSD conducts official home visits and situational assessments.
Furthermore, potential safety parents undergo structured training covering legal requirements and the Children's Act. Lewis stated: 'Once approved, safety parents enter the active register, ready to be called upon in the event of emergency placements.' She added that volunteers receive care kits, daily subsistence stipends for the child, and specialized guidance from their assigned social workers.
Citizens interested in opening their home to needy children can apply directly online through the external SWIMS portal at swimsmobile.westerncape.gov.za/portal.