Mr Speaker, in a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Minister of Social Development revealed that the Child Protection Register lists only one individual deemed unsuitable to work with children as a result of previous convictions for child abuse. How is this possible?
Last year, there were 4 000 reported cases of ill-treatment of children. We know that South Africa is the world capital for baby rape and the sexual abuse of minors. It is estimated that around 30 000 children per year are victims of sexual abuse. In this context, it is difficult to believe that only one person in the entire country is prohibited from working with children. The Minister of Social Development, the hon Bathabile Dlamini, has some explaining to do.
The DA wants to know why only one name is on the Child Protection Register when child abuse is so prevalent in our country; and why it cost over R1,7 million to develop and maintain a Child Protection Register that records a single name. It is essential that we have a child protection register to safeguard our children from those who prey on them. However, it is impossible to do so if the register is in a shambles. [Applause.]