Cape Town - Employers are beginning to use the National Child Protection Register (CPR) to screen for job applicants who are child offenders, the social development department said.
“We are pleased that more South Africans and organisations that work with children have become aware of the Child Protection Register and are using it to screen job applicants,” Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said in a government newsletter.
Prospective employers are becoming aware of the importance of safeguarding children’s health and well-being, while many employers within South Africa have made numerous inquiries to the department regarding using the CPR to screen applicants.
As a result, job applicants who have been convicted of child abuse crimes may soon find themselves being denied work opportunities due to their names appearing on the register.
The CPR consists of two parts, Part A, which records all forms of child abuse and neglect, including all convictions of people charged with child abuse and neglect and the findings of the Children’s Court. Part B records all people declared unsuitable for working with children.
The report indicated that during the 2014/2015 financial year, the department received 63,664 queries about the CPR, which is an increase from 41 129 queries during the previous financial year.
The department said this figure was indicative of an increase in awareness over the rights children have to be protected.
“Government cannot work on its own and requires all South Africans to partner with it to address and end child abuse, neglect and exploitation,” said Dlamini.
“We are therefore encouraged that inquiries against the register are rising.”
Dlamini said her department and the justice and constitutional development department would be looking at the feasibility of merging the CPR and the National Register for Sex Offenders to avoid duplication between the two registers.
She encouraged people to wear green ribbons to support children’s rights during Child Protection Week.
Child Protection Week, under the theme “Working together to protect children,” is being observed from May 31 to June 7. The rights of children are being increasingly highlighted given the country’s high rate of rape and sexual abuse incidents.
ANA