JOHANNESBURG - The Constitution guarantees the protection of children, but the Joshlin Smith disappearance shows not enough is being done to safeguard them.
Joshlin’s mother Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Apollis and Steveno van Rhyn face charges of kidnapping and human trafficking.
The then 6-year-old went missing a year ago.
Dr Shaheda Omar, Clinical director for the Teddy Bear Foundation says the Joshline case is a example how systems are failing children.
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'There are many Joshlin Smiths that have gone missing with their whereabouts unknown to date. This highlights the critical gaps in the child protection system, the lack of adequate mental health support and accountability issues," Omar says.
Omar noted how details of cases vary from child to child but there are common systemic failure which apply to these cases.
According to him, the country's child welfare society is overburdened, under-financed and under-resourced and this should be looked into.