Mnr die Speaker, Jesus Christus het in sy tyd op aarde dit baie duidelik gestel dat Hy en die Vader 'n spesiale plek vir kinders het, tot so 'n mate dat dit beter sou wees vir di wat kinders seermaak om eerder nie gebore te gewees het nie. Dit is 'n baie sterk sentiment en sluit aan by die ander Bybelse opdragte aan die sterkeres om die swakkes, soos bejaardes, vroue in minderwaardige posisies en dan ook kinders, te beskerm.
Hierdie sentimente word ook in ander geloofskodes gevind, en vind wreldwyd neerslag in internasionale en nasionale regstelsels. Daarom is die beskerming van kinders 'n universele beginsel en is ons dankbaar vir dae soos hierdie wat daarop gerig is om die wreld te herinner aan die gebod om kinders lief te h. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Adv A DE W ALBERTS: Mr Speaker, Jesus Christ, in his time on earth, made it very clear that He and the Father have a very special place for children, to such a degree that it would be better for those who hurt children not to have been born at all. This is a very strong sentiment and it corresponds with other commands in the Bible that the strong have to protect the weak, such as the elderly, women in inferior positions as well as children.
These sentiments are also present in other religious codes and are reflected in international and national systems of law. Therefore the protection of children is a universal principle, and we are thankful for days like these that are aimed at reminding the world about the commandment to love children.]
It is unfortunately also part of the human condition that humankind falters and fails many times when it comes to adherence to the moral code that thou shall not bring harm to children. I see this when news reports appear about child abductions, child rapes, murders, physical and mental abuse, and trafficking. This happens everywhere, but especially in South Africa.
As far as the FF Plus is concerned, these actions are not mere crimes, but true manifestations of evil. They are not driven by survival issues, but are part of the many faces of evil. We, as the elected representatives of this country, must find ways to fight this evil.
Hoe sal ons dan aandag gee aan hierdie oorlog teen die bose? [How will we pay attention to this war against evil?]
South Africa has institutions and mechanisms to break this onslaught against our children, but we have to adequately capacitate or recapacitate them. This means the following: Firstly, the Minister must engage with the Minister of Police to recapacitate the SA Police Service with expertise. I say "recapacitate", as South Africa, pre-1994 and until recently, had the best child protection unit in the world. Its head, Anneke Pienaar, was regularly invited by other countries and the United Nations to showcase the unit's skills. Yet, even in those days, they were undercapacitated and had to rely on free handouts from the private sector and free upskilling from lecturers at universities.
Very little expertise remains today, and the rest has been dispersed to stations all over the country, essentially diluting the good forces that must face up to the evil threatening our children. Mistakes of the Mbeki administration must be addressed by reconstituting the Child Protection Unit, separately from the Family Violence Unit, and recapacitating it with the best people.
Tweedens moet ons die beste kandidate as maatskaplike werkers aanstel by wyse van beter salarisse. Baie maatskaplike werkers bedank weens swak salarisse, of brand uit weens die werkslading, of gaan sommer net oorsee.
Daar is ook 'n behoefte aan die daarstelling van ordentlike hulpbronne, soos kospakkies; leefbare, veilige hawens vir kinders en vrouens; asook beter subsidies vir kinderhuise. Intussen wag baie maatskaplike werkers en hofbeamptes vir opleiding in die nuwe Kinderwet, wat net nie gebeur nie.
Minister, as ons nie aan hierdie praktiese sake aandag gee nie, dan gaan ons faal in die beskerming van ons kinders, en dit sal 'n skande wees. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [Secondly, we have to appoint the best candidates as social workers by means of better salaries. Many social workers resign because of poor salaries, or burn out as a result of their workload, or just go overseas.
There is also a need to ensure decent resources, such as food parcels; liveable shelters for children and women; and better subsidies for children's homes. Meanwhile many social workers and court officials are waiting for training in the new Children's Act, but this is not happening.
Minister, if we do not give attention to these practical issues, we are going to fail in protecting our children, and that will be a shame.]
I thank you.