This year, the department will raise awareness on its community based prevention and early intervention programme RISIHA. As the name suggests in XiTsonga meaning Resilience, it is aimed at moving orphaned and vulnerable children from vulnerability to resilience.

To date, the programme has reached 181 569 orphaned and vulnerable children across the country through the provision of a basket of child protection services by 6 052 Child and Youth Care Workers across the country. Eight hundred and sixteen Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) are implementing the program and 26 of them are in the Western Cape Province.

The campaign seeks to mobilise all sectors and communities towards embracing the holistic development, care, and protection of children under the five-year theme: “Let us Protect Children during COVID-19 and Beyond”.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Child Protection Week launch planned as follows:

Date:    Sunday, 28 May 2023

Time:   10h00

Venue: James House Community Based Care in Houtbay, Cape Town

Date:    Monday, 29 May 2023

Time:   10h00

Venue: Cnr Sun and, 10 Sky Road, Bishop Lavis, AFM Church, in Houtbay, Cape Town

The Minister is expected to launch the integrated social crime, substance abuse, GBVF and ASSIST app at the University of Cape Town on May 29 and table the Department’s budget vote on 30 May 2023.

Tune in LIVE for the Department’s programme on its official OTT platform: www.dsdtv.org.za

Media can RSVP by contacting Ms Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane on 0664806845 / NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za or Mr Jaconia Kobue on 0632495120 / Mr Jaconia Kobue JaconiaK@dsd.gov.za

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 0834848067 or lumkao@dsd.gov.za