It is Child Protection month and R43-million in deceased estates paid out to rightful beneficiaries (part of a partnership with the Office of Master of the High Court), is the result of just one of Legal Aid SA's initiatives to protect and defend the rights of children.
It is Child Protection month and R43-million in deceased estates paid out to rightful beneficiaries (part of a partnership with the Office of Master of the High Court), is the result of just one of Legal Aid SA's initiatives to protect and defend the rights of children.
The partnership with the Master's office aims to make sure that deceased parents' estates are wound up quickly so that the children don't suffer hardship.
Other initiatives include a deal with the Department of Correctional Services to make sure that Legal Aid South Africa has up-to-date information on all children who are detained in correctional facilities around the country.
This information is used to track these children individually, to ensure that they are released and if, for some reason, they have to remain in custody for the duration of their trial, that they are detained in a secure care facility.
Legal Aid SA's Justice Centres have established working relationships with the South African Police Services and the Department of Social Development, to tell them as soon as possible of all children that are arrested so that efforts can be made to have the child released into the custody of his or her parent/guardian before their appearance in court.
The organisation has also partnered with the Centre for Child Law, a specialist child law clinic based at the University of Pretoria, which keeps them completely up to date with any changes in the law pertaining to children.
They also have 24 hour access to the Child Law Centre, from where they get advice on any child-related cases they are dealing with.
Legal Aid SA has also established children’s units in some of its justice centres.
These units focus exclusively on providing representation to children in both criminal and civil matters.
Based in these units are specialist child law practitioners who have had advanced training and research background in child law.
With the introduction of the Child Justice Act, Legal Aid SA have also taken steps to ensure that children are legally represented at the Preliminary Court stage.
Their main priority and first approach is to try and divert the child away from the criminal justice system, by recommending that they be put into a diversion programme or through the use of restorative justice.
Established in 2010, the toll-free Legal Aid Advice Line 0800 110 110 FREE assists clients in a broad range of legal issues, with children’s rights being a priority focus area.
During 2014/15, the call centre handled over 4000 calls involving children.
This included civil matters such as custody and care, foster care, guardianship, maintenance, administration of deceased estates and issues affecting children in conflict with the law.
Child Law forms part of Legal Aid SA’s compulsory in-house legal training programme which means all their lawyers are equipped to deal with cases involving children competently.
