MEDIA STATEMENT
BY THE
INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
New Children's Act Doomed to Failure
|
IFP PRESS
STATEMENT BY: 10 July 2007 Ms Patricia Lebenya MP, the Acting National Chair of the Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade, today said that the new Children's Act, of which more than 40 sections became operational at the beginning of the month, is doomed to fail without serious and sustained commitment by government. "In South Africa, almost everyday we are confronted with the grim reality of children going missing, being abducted or being found raped and murdered," said Ms Lebenya. "Just today we heard that the Western Cape police are investigating charges of rape and abduction after a five-year-old girl was reported missing in the Karoo. "It's shocking news. It only points to one thing - a serious moral corrosion within our communities and society at large. Our children are not safe anymore and government has not done enough to create safer environments for our kids. "Now, that some sections of government's ambitious plan to give children more rights came into effect, one can only but wonder whether or not this will really be able to serve its intended purpose. "Billions are needed to implement this act and an army of social workers are required to enforce the act. The profession is already in crisis due to low pay and low morale, because working conditions are bad and case loads high. "Children in South Africa still lack basic rights - the right to basic services, a right to grow up in safe environments and the right to a good childhood. Government still lacks serious commitment towards our children. And without this changing, the IFP can't see government turning around the dismal fate of our children anytime soon," concluded Ms Lebenya. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: |