One only has to listen to the news or read the newspapers to get an idea of who bears the brunt of South Africa’s unequal and broken society. Report after report of children abandoned, abused and neglected come across the airwaves, desktops and dinner tables. Whilst South Africa’s laws are in favour of its children, the Children’s’ Act remains the proverbial pipedream for many of these most vulnerable of society.
Communities are well aware of the issues facing their children, but are often ill equipped to adequately address them, despite their best and often, sacrificial, efforts. South African churches, of which there are many, are well placed to effectively meet the needs of these children. There is a church on every corner in some areas - and caring for children is a major part of the mandated theology of the Christian faith.
The Children’s Act puts protection and provision for children into law and is a good legal framework for anyone involved in the care, development and protection of children, promoting their well-being and protecting them from harm. The key to any law however is its implementation and often churches do not know what this law entails and fails to put the bare minimum in place to ensure this very protection and provision. For a community to apply the law it needs to know and understand it first. Whilst the Children’s Act is good, it can be out of reach to church communities who do not understand it or know how it applies to real-life situations.
This Children’s Act guide is part of a larger initiative called Child Safe Churches, and focuses on equipping leaders within the church to better understand and adhere to the Children’s Act and other relevant legislation, in order to promote the protection and wellbeing of children in all aspects of church and community life.
This is an interdenominational initiative, that has been developed and reviewed by a team from a broad range of church affiliations, and is specifically for churches addressing children’s activities and pastoral care issues.
The section provides details on the background and development of the Act, which legislation was replaced by the Act, the aim and purpose of the Act, who the Act applies to and lists some additional legislation that relates to children that has been used in the manual. It also provides details on who the manual is targeted at and why churches need to know about the Act and also who in the church.