Childline FS

Childline South Africa is the country's dedicated child protection organisation, operating since 1986. With a presence in every province, their core purpose is to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence — and to provide therapeutic support to children who have been harmed. In the Western Cape, Childline has operated since 1995 and has a specific focus on gender-based violence, trauma, bereavement, and court preparation for children.

Childline is deeply relevant to survivors who are parents or caregivers of children who have been abused or are at risk, as well as to young survivors who experienced childhood sexual abuse or violence and need support. Adults can also call on behalf of a child they are worried about.

Their message: "An informed person is better able to protect themselves or seek protection."

What They Offer Survivors and Their Children

24-Hour Toll-Free Helpline (116) The Childline helpline is free from every network in South Africa, every hour of the day and night. Children can call about abuse, depression, relationship problems, neglect, bullying, harassment, and more. Adults can also call if they are concerned about a child. Counsellors will listen without judgement and help determine the best next steps.

Online Counselling Chat Service For children and young people who may not be able to speak freely on the phone, Childline offers a web-based chat counselling service — available Monday to Friday, 11am–1pm and 2–6pm. This is a D/Deaf-friendly service, making it accessible to young people with hearing impairments.

Face-to-Face Individual Counselling (Western Cape) Childline Western Cape provides individual therapeutic counselling for children aged 3–17 who have experienced sexual abuse, trauma, or bereavement. Sessions typically run across 4–8 appointments with a trained counsellor.

Court Preparation Going to court as a child witness or victim is frightening. Childline has specialist court preparation services to help children understand what to expect, reducing the fear and trauma of the legal process. This is a nationally recognised area of expertise for Childline.

Group Work and Life Skills Support groups and life skills workshops are available for at-risk children and young people — providing peer support, resilience-building, and healthy coping strategies.

School-Based Peer Support Programme (Western Cape) Childline runs a special programme in Western Cape schools that trains teenage learners to become peer supporters — helping their classmates who may be experiencing abuse or difficulty at home.

Prevention and Education Programmes Childline goes into schools and communities to educate children about their rights, what abuse is, what consent means, and what they can do if something happens to them. This programme is available to schools across the Western Cape — contact the Wynberg office to request it.

Child Protection Reporting If you know of a child who is being abused or is in danger, Childline can guide you on how to report it safely and ensure the child gets the help they need.

If a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 10111. For counselling and support for children, call Childline free on 116, anytime.