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Monday 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00 Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 Friday 09:00 - 17:00

Child Protection in Action

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South Africa
Port Elizabeth
Child Protection in Action

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Sanet Viljoen is a Social Worker with 39 years experience.

She presents child protection training to social workers, auxiliary social workers and line management.

02/11/2026

💡 MONDAY FUN – NEW CHAPTER, NEW CHALLENGE!

We've explored Chapters 1 and 2 of the Children's Act. Today, we move to Chapter 3 - Parental Responsibilities and Rights! ⚖️

Let's start with section 18(2).
We often refer to parental responsibilities and rights in our daily child protection work. But how well do we know exactly what the Act provides?

🤔 THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Which of the following is NOT specifically listed as a parental responsibility or right in section 18(2) of the Children's Act?
Five options, but only FOUR are listed in the Act!

💬 What do you think?

Share your answer (A, B, C, D or E) and tell us WHY you chose it.

💡 A little hint: You may also refer to other relevant sections of the Children’s Act to motivate your answer. Remember, understanding legislation is not only about reading one section in isolation, but also about recognising how different provisions connect.

🙈 No peeping!

The correct answer, together with a practical explanation, will follow on Saturday.

Remember, Monday Fun is about more than getting the answer right. It's about revisiting our legislation, challenging our knowledge and strengthening our professional practice. 💚

📌 Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult the applicable legislation, regulations and rules.

02/11/2026

🖤💛 BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL: 3 FO

Ready to invest in your professional development for less? This Black Friday, we’re giving you more opportunities to learn, grow and strengthen your skills! 🎓✨

🔥 CHOOSE ANY 3 WORKSHOPS AND GET THE CHEAPEST ONE FREE!

Here’s how it works:
✅ Choose any 3 workshops from our current schedule.
✅ Add your selected workshops to your learning plan.
✅ Pay for 2 and get the cheapest workshop FREE!
Whether you want to refresh your knowledge, develop new skills or expand your professional expertise, this is the perfect opportunity to invest in yourself.

📅 Browse our current workshop schedule and choose your favourites before you miss out!

💬 Which 3 workshops would you choose? Let us know in the comments!

02/11/2026

Plan your CPD for the rest of the year! 📅
Our final workshops for 2026 are all presented online via Zoom by Sanet Viljoen, so you can join from anywhere in South Africa:
✅ Guidance for Heartful Helpers in Child and Youth Care Centres: 5 and 6 November
✅ Children’s Act and the Child Protection Social Worker: 19, 20, 26 and 27 November
✅ Understanding the Children’s Bill 2025
✅ Reporting of Abused or Neglected Child and Child in Need of Care and Protection: 2 and 3 December
✅ The Child Protection Social Worker and the Criminal Law: 4 December
✅ Understanding the Amendments to the Children’s Act and Regulations: 8 December
✅ Guardianship and the Child Protection Social Worker: 9 December
✅ Safety and Risk Assessment in Child Protection
All workshops carry CPD points for social workers and social auxiliary workers. Spaces are limited, so book early.
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

31/10/2026

🎉 MONDAY FUN ANSWER

Did you get it right? 🧐

✅ The correct answer is D!

⚖️ Sections 14, 16 and 17 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 remind us of three important principles:

🟢 Section 14 - Access to Court
Every child has the right to bring a matter to court and to be assisted in doing so, provided the matter falls within that court's jurisdiction.

🟠 Section 16 - Responsibilities of Children
Children have responsibilities towards their families, communities and the state, but these must be appropriate to their age and ability.

🔵 Section 17 - Age of Majority
Every child, whether male or female, becomes a major upon reaching 18 years of age.

💡 LET'S THINK ABOUT PRACTICE!

As social workers, we often focus on protecting children's rights. But how often do we consider their responsibilities, their developing capacities and their right to approach a court?

These three short sections remind us that children are not merely recipients of protection. They are individuals with rights, developing responsibilities and a voice that deserves to be heard.

💬 A question for discussion:

How do you encourage children to understand both their rights and their responsibilities in your daily practice?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

📌 Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult the applicable legislation, regulations and rules.

30/10/2026

Did you know? Section 150(1) of the Children's Act was amended, and there are now 12 circumstances in which a child is in need of care and protection. This includes a child who:

(a) Has been abandoned or orphaned and has no family member who is able and suitable to care for the child
(b) Displays behaviour which cannot be controlled by the parent or caregiver
(c) Lives or works on the streets or begs for a living
(d) Is addicted to a dependence producing substance and is without any support to obtain treatment for such dependency
(e) Has been exploited or lives in circumstances that expose the child to exploitation
(f) Lives in or is exposed to circumstances which may seriously harm the child's physical, mental or social wellbeing
(g) May be at risk if returned to the custody of the parent, guardian or caregiver, as there is reason to believe the child will live in or be exposed to circumstances which may seriously harm the child's physical, mental or social wellbeing
(h) Is in a state of physical or mental neglect
(i) Is being maltreated, abused, deliberately neglected or degraded by a parent, a caregiver, a person who has parental responsibilities and rights or a family member of the child, or by a person in whose care the child is
(j) Is an unaccompanied migrant child from another country
(k) Is a victim of trafficking
(l) Has been sold by a parent, caregiver or guardian

The amendments (Act 17 of 2022) came into effect on 8 November 2023 and added three new grounds: unaccompanied migrant children, victims of trafficking and children who have been sold. 📋

28/10/2026

⚖️ LET'S TALK ABOUT COURTS!

📚 A FOUR-PART MINI-SERIES FOR SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS

Yesterday's post about the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment involving adoption received over 14,500 views and sparked some interesting comments!

This prompted us to put together a short four-part mini-series to refresh our knowledge of the South African court system, where the Children's Court fits in and how appeals and reviews work.

Here's what we'll explore:

⚖️ PART 1 – Understanding the South African Court System
How are our courts structured, and what are their different functions?

⚖️ PART 2 – Where Does the Children's Court Fit In?
Understanding the Children's Court and its place within the Magistrates' Court system.

⚖️ PART 3 – Appeals and Reviews
What happens when someone disagrees with a court decision? What is the difference between an appeal and a review?

⚖️ PART 4 – From the Children's Court to the Supreme Court of Appeal
Revisiting the October 2026 adoption judgment and exploring how the matter progressed through the courts.

💚 Just a little refresher to strengthen our understanding of the courts we work with as social workers.

💬 NOW, OVER TO YOU!

How confident are you in your understanding of the South African court system? Is there anything about the courts, appeals or reviews that you find confusing?

Share your thoughts, questions or experiences in the comments below! 👇
Because knowledge is power!

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult the applicable legislation, regulations and rules.

28/10/2026

Guardianship decisions have a lasting impact on a child's life. This one day Zoom workshop explores guardianship and the role of the child protection social worker, helping you navigate these matters with clarity and confidence.

Date: 09/12
Time: 08:00 to 16:00
CPD Points: 6 (social workers and social auxiliary workers)
Cost: R500 p.p
Format: Online via Zoom
Registration: [email protected]

27/10/2026

⚖️ IMPORTANT COURT JUDGMENT FOR CHILD PROTECTION SOCIAL WORKERS!

ADOPTION VERSUS CHILD PROTECTION - TWO DIFFERENT STATUTORY PROCESSES!

On 20 October 2026, the Supreme Court of Appeal(SCA) in Bloemfontein delivered an important judgment concerning the interpretation of the Children's Act 38 of 2005.

📌 WHAT WAS THE CASE ABOUT?
The matter involved two children whose biological mothers had consented to their adoption. The Gauteng Department of Social Development treated the adoption as a child protection matter, insisting the children be investigated as children in need of care and protection and attempting to prioritise placement with their biological families. This resulted in significant, unlawful delays.

In November 2022, the Gauteng High Court found that the Department and its social workers had acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally. The Department appealed the decision, but on 20 October 2026, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal with costs.

📚 Why This Judgment Matters:
🔹Two Separate Processes: Chapter 9 (children in need of care and protection) and Chapter 15 (adoption) are completely distinct statutory processes. A child does not first have to be found in need of care and protection for adoption proceedings to occur.
🔹Guidelines vs. Legislation: Departmental policies and National Adoption Guidelines cannot introduce additional legal requirements that conflict with the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.
🔹No Automatic Preference: While family relationships and culture are important, they do not automatically take preference over other factors. Every child's circumstances require an individual, child-specific best-interest assessment.
🔹Respecting Consent & Privacy: Valid adoption consent must be respected. Disregarding consent or bypassing privacy rights to contact biological grandparents without authorisation is an unjustified intrusion.

⚠️ PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The Court upheld the referral of the implicated social workers' conduct to the SACSSP.

💭 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
What is our professional responsibility when departmental guidelines or instructions conflict with the Children's Act?

👏 Thank you to ACVV for sharing the informative summary accompanying this post.

📚 READ THE FULL JUDGMENT
Minister of Social Development and Others v TT and Others (862/2023) [2026] ZASCA 142.
https://www3.saflii.org/za/cases/ZASCA/2026/142.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

📢 COMING TO OUR INFORMATION HUB!
The full judgment will also be available by the end of this week under the Information Hub, Case Law on our website:
🌐 www.childprotectioninaction.co.za

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

27/10/2026

💡 MONDAY FUN QUESTION

We often focus on the longer, more procedural parts of the Children’s Act - but what about these short, important sections?

Sections 14, 16 and 17 remind us that children have rights, responsibilities appropriate to their development and a changing legal status as they grow.

Do we think about these provisions often enough and how do we apply them in practice?

⚖️ Which statement correctly reflects sections 14, 16 and 17 of the Children’s Act?
A. A child may approach a court only through a parent or guardian.
B. Every child has the same responsibilities, regardless of age or ability.
C. A female child becomes a major at 18, but a male child becomes a major at 21.
D. A child may bring- and be assisted in bringing - a matter to a court; has responsibilities appropriate to their age and ability; and becomes a major at 18.

💬 Share your answer and tell us why you chose it.

🙈 No peeping!

The correct answer and a practical explanation will follow on Saturday.

, 16, 17

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult the applicable legislation, regulations and rules.

26/10/2026

Every visit, every report and every conversation brings a child one step closer to safety. 💚

As we head into the final week of October, thank you to every social worker, child and youth care worker, teacher and community member who shows up for children. Your work matters, even on the days it goes unseen.

Address

Port Elizabeth

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00

Website

https://childprotectioninaction.co.za/

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