​The Gauteng Department of Social Development Ekurhuleni Region hosted a parental skills workshop at Rondebult after they noticed parents in the area could not look after their children.
The workshop took place at Serving Faith Church in Rondebult and was attended by all eligible parents last Friday.

Social Work Manager, Linda Tshamase, said the Department came to the area because though their field and intake, it was established that most parents in Rondebult could not take care of their children.

“We are here so that we educate parents on how best to look after children. We always come to this area to remove children from their parents, who are failing to protect them” said Tshamase
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At the end of the day, we want to preserve and not remove children. So, we want to equip parents with skills and inform them mostly the elderly, about child development” she added.

This was echoed by her colleague, Sikelelwa Mbasane, who said parents should play a significant role in the upbringing, education and safety of their children. They must also ensure that children are registered and documented at birth, because it becomes difficult to assist them when they are not documented.

Mbasane added that parents and communities must adopt the parenting skills programme where the safety of children is prioritised and nourished.

“The Department is implementing the programme to look at measures that can be utilised to eradicate child abuse, child poverty and to improve children’s upbringing,”

Mbasane further encouraged foster parents to know their social workers, to keep supervision of children and report any form of abuse to the police.

Deliwe Khulu, a 58-year-old resident who attended the engagement said she learned a lot and hopes to assist her sister’s children who are currently residing in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

“I would like to thank the department for inviting stakeholders like the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Department of Justice, and Home Affairs who all gave us valuable information,” said Khulu.