The MEC of Social Development, Albert Fritz, has launched the province’s fifth child play therapy room and staff breastfeeding facility in Bredasdorp.

This innovation aims to address greater societal issues pertaining to child safety in the province.

The first child play therapy room was launched by Fritz at the Langa Service Delivery Area on 4 December 2017. Thereafter, child play therapy rooms were launched in Beaufort West on 18 April 2018, Mitchells Plain on 16 July 2018 and Malmesbury on 25 September 2018.

To date, 100 social workers have been trained and 50 more will be trained by May 2019 to assist the child play therapy rooms. Additionally, the venue will have a lactation facility for staff members. The Department has established 16 such facilities at local offices throughout the province.

Fritz says these rooms play a critical role in enabling specialist child protection social workers to assist children who have been physically, emotionally and/or sexually abused. It creates a safe space for children to express themselves and report serious crimes.

“We cannot stand for violence against children. For this reason, I have further committed my Department to establishing an additional six child play therapy rooms in Paarl, Knysna, Worcester, Milnerton, Eerste River, and Kraaifontein.”