Francistown City Council is experiencing high volumes of child welfare cases especially on sexual related offences such as rape, defilement and indecent assault.
According to the Mayor of Francistown, Godisang Radisigo, currently there are 206 welfare cases which were referred by Police, Magistrate and High Courts.
Radisigo told a full Council meeting this week that out of the 206 cases, 39 are of children facing various charges such as murder, rape, robbery, and unlawful wounding. He said 105 cases are on sexually related offences against children, majority of which involve perpetrators known to the victim and families.
“Twenty-nine are cases of child neglect and cruel treatment. As a society we need to assume our full responsibilities especially parental guidance and protection,” Radisigo said.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Radisigo said some of the children who find themselves in cases such as murder, rape and robbery are influenced by the environment in which they grow up, especially where there is no parental guidance or irresponsible parenting where some parents are always under the influence of alcohol.
Radisigo said that Council is working with different stakeholders such as the police, ward development committees and social welfare department to educate members of the public and sensitise them on the importance of children’s social welfare.
Some of these children are destitute as they have lost their parents and are trying to find means of survival by committing such crimes, especially robbery.
“Members of the public and social welfare workers who identify a child suffering from neglect, abuse or exceptionally poor living conditions can approach the Magistrate courts for assistance. The court can allow for the Social Worker intervention or remove the child from the situation,” Radisigo said.
Children's Social Workers help children and their families when they are going through difficult times and they work with parents to bring greater safety and stability to the family life or help find another home for the child.
Radisigo urged families and communities to report cases in which they identify children who have lost their parents, saying it is difficult for the Council to assist such needy children without information.
According to the Mayor of Francistown, Godisang Radisigo, currently there are 206 welfare cases which were referred by Police, Magistrate and High Courts.
Radisigo told a full Council meeting this week that out of the 206 cases, 39 are of children facing various charges such as murder, rape, robbery, and unlawful wounding. He said 105 cases are on sexually related offences against children, majority of which involve perpetrators known to the victim and families.
“Twenty-nine are cases of child neglect and cruel treatment. As a society we need to assume our full responsibilities especially parental guidance and protection,” Radisigo said.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Radisigo said some of the children who find themselves in cases such as murder, rape and robbery are influenced by the environment in which they grow up, especially where there is no parental guidance or irresponsible parenting where some parents are always under the influence of alcohol.
Radisigo said that Council is working with different stakeholders such as the police, ward development committees and social welfare department to educate members of the public and sensitise them on the importance of children’s social welfare.
Some of these children are destitute as they have lost their parents and are trying to find means of survival by committing such crimes, especially robbery.
“Members of the public and social welfare workers who identify a child suffering from neglect, abuse or exceptionally poor living conditions can approach the Magistrate courts for assistance. The court can allow for the Social Worker intervention or remove the child from the situation,” Radisigo said.
Children's Social Workers help children and their families when they are going through difficult times and they work with parents to bring greater safety and stability to the family life or help find another home for the child.
Radisigo urged families and communities to report cases in which they identify children who have lost their parents, saying it is difficult for the Council to assist such needy children without information.
