Brigadier Herna Els, provincial head of the Family violence, Child protection and Sexual offences (FCS) Unit in the Free State, has urged communities to report all forms of child abuse, stressing that protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.
Els highlighted the role of the FCS in investigating family-related matters, regardless of the age or gender of the victim, with a strong focus on children.
“We deal with every child victim-related case, family-related matters, child abuse, neglect, assault, and intra-familial cases. The protection of children is everybody’s business,” said Els.
She explained that the FCS also investigates sexual offences, electronic sexual crimes, rape, child pornography, and serial rape cases that often stretch across clusters, provinces, and even international borders.
The Free State currently has 18 FCS units spread across five districts, serving 113 police stations. Each unit covers between six and eight police stations, working in designated areas while also responding to cases in surrounding towns.
This year’s Child Protection Week theme was Working Together to End Violence against Children, a message Els says must extend beyond one week or month.
“Although we observed Child Protection Week towards the end of May going into June, it should not be a once-a-week or once-a-month affair. Everybody who deals with children needs to take care of that child.”
She urged residents across the Free State to act immediately if they suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation.
Els emphasised that the responsibility does not lie solely with the South African Police Service or the department of social development, but with parents, teachers, caregivers, and every adult who interacts with children.
“We cannot assist if nothing is reported. When you are aware that a child is abused in any kind of way, whether it is neglect or sexual exploitation, it needs to be reported,” she said. “The protection of children is everybody’s business.”
FCS conducted 155 community outreach programmes across the province last year, with 34 already completed in April and May this year. “These outreach programmes are important because many communities are still unaware of the services available to them. It is a process of educating victims, parents and organisations,” Els said.
Victims or witnesses can report abuse at any of the province’s 113 police stations, regardless of where the incident took place.
“You do not have to report a case where it happened. If the incident happened in Bloemfontein, you can report it anywhere in South Africa.”
She also encouraged the public to use the five Thuthuzela Care Centres in Welkom, Sasolburg, Bethlehem, Bloemfontein and Phuthaditjhaba, which fall under the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The centres offer counselling, and dockets can be opened here. Call Childline’s 24-hour helpline on 08600 12 2333 or the SAPS emergency line 10111.
She explained police stations now have victim-friendly rooms where victims can request interviews to be conducted, helping to avoid secondary trauma for everyone within earshot.
Sibongile Selomane
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