24 Hour Help Line
A toll-free telephone service offering counselling and support services to 380 000 children and their families for all issues including the facilitation of child protection services.
The Childline Gauteng Help Line is toll-free (from Telkom landlines and mobile phones) and accessible to all children, families and community members in Gauteng. We are linked to Childline services throughout South Africa. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
The Call Centre service facilitates a child rights and responsibilities culture, through counselling regarding any child-related issue. This allows for the early identification of and practical intervention in children’s problems, which averts the exacerbation of problematic situations and serves as a preventative measure.
The Help Line focuses on four specific areas of intervention:
- crisis intervention
- facilitation of child protection
- a referral and advisory service
- counselling
Trained counsellors provide support, information and appropriate intervention including risk assessment, in the preferred language of the caller on issues such as: the physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect of children; adult survivors of abuse; perpetrators of abuse and sexual offenders; trafficking, abduction and commercial sexual exploitation of young boys and girls; exposure and witness to domestic and criminal violence; internet pornography; sexuality and gender discrimination; poverty, homelessness, begging and referrals for social grants; behavioural problems; family relationships and parenting skills; legal issues, maintenance, divorce, corporal punishment; bullying and school-related problems e.g. bursaries and school fees; disabled children at risk; physical health e.g. anorexia and emotional health e.g. depression and suicide; substance abuse; HIV/AIDS, child-headed households and bereavement; foreign nationals and refugee children.
Government Gazette has confirmed that Childline South Africa has been awarded the Internationally recognized 116 Help Line number for children. This is a great achievement that has been under discussion for many years. There is to be a phased roll-out, with both numbers working for 6 months.
- Media release issued by Childline South Africa – please click here
- For the Government Gazette – please click here