North West Assistant District Commissioner and Chairperson of the Child Protection Committee, Omphile Mogorosi, has launched an urgent appeal to the Maun community to help identify and trace the families of vulnerable children currently roaming the village streets.
The initiative aims to curb rising cases of child neglect and ensure these minors are reunited with their guardians or placed in safe family environments. The call comes amid growing concerns from social workers, law enforcement, and child protection units regarding the welfare of minors across Ngamiland.
Speaking during a consultative meeting on the review of the Children’s Act of 2009 at the Maun Kgotla this week, Mogorosi warned that these children face severe risks. These include sexual violence, exposure to contaminated food, extreme weather, and substance abuse. Mogorosi noted that the children are regularly seen in malls begging for food and money, while some even sleep on the streets.
Mogorosi believes that modern family dynamics contribute to child neglect, drawing a contrast to the past when extended families united to raise children together.
“Nowadays people live their own lives and tend to forget about the children. Raising a child requires a collective, community-driven effort rather than resting solely on the shoulders of biological parents,” she said.
Furthermore, Mogorosi called for the harmonization of the new children’s act with other national statutes, such as the Penal Code, the Customary Law Act, and the Education Act, to ensure they align on the rights, protection, and welfare of children.
She stated the new act must address the protection of children from cyberbullying, while urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities. Mogorosi also stressed the need for clear timelines on child protection cases, noting that the current justice system is unfavorable as these cases take too long to resolve.
Commenting on the review, Borolong Village Development Committee (VDC) Chairperson Opelo Monaga called for harsher sentences in cases of child neglect and abandonment.
Monaga urged residents to help identify street children and direct them to relevant authorities, such as social workers, rather than offering them money. She noted that some children roam the streets not because they are neglected or lack parental support, but simply because they want to avoid household chores.
In her remarks, North West District Senior Social Welfare Officer Ototeng Serite raised concerns over the rising number of child protection cases in the district.
She revealed that during the first quarter of 2026 (April to June), the district recorded 104 cases of defilement, 61 cases of rape, 45 cases of child neglect, 18 cases of indecent assault, and three cases of child abandonment.
Serite also expressed concern over a lack of family integration in the district, citing it as a major contributor to rising child protection issues. She highlighted that some parents leave their children without proper guardians when heading to work, which exacerbates the problem.
Serite called for the new act to strengthen penalties for offenders, arguing that imprisonment should be favored over fines. She also highlighted the need to establish a dedicated Children’s Court to handle child protection cases specifically.
Matshwane Youth Clinic Principal Registered Nurse Keneilwe Thankane also voiced alarms over rising teenage pregnancy rates in the North West District. She revealed that more than 400 teenage pregnancy cases have been recorded since the beginning of this year, with 99 of those cases registered between April and June 2026.
