- Western Cape Children’s Commissioner Christina Nomdo will step down in May 2025, citing personal reasons.
- Public nominations for her successor are now open.
- The role aims to protect and promote children’s rights, with advocacy groups calling for more collaboration and action in the next term.
The Western Cape Commissioner for Children, Christina Nomdo, has formally requested Parliament to initiate a process to appoint a new Children’s Commissioner.
Nomdo’s tenure as the Commissioner will conclude in May next year and she has indicated that she would not pursue a second term “due to personal reasons”.
According to the Western Cape Commissioner for Children Act, the incumbent holds the position for a five-year term and is eligible for only one additional term.
The Commissioner’s role is to protect and promote the rights, needs and interests of children in the province by working with the departments of Education, Health, and Social Development as well as Cultural Affairs and Sport.
As the curtain comes down on World Children’s Day, celebrated on 20 November annually, Children’s rights organisation Molo Songololo believes the commissioner’s priority should always be putting the needs of children first.
Patric Solomon, managing director of Molo Songololo, said: “The commissioner for children must promote, monitor, investigate, and report on progress made and challenges in government and civil society regarding the implementation of the rights of the child.
“They must consult and involve children in the work of the Commissioner, set up a complaint’s mechanism for children, and report to the provincial legislature and premier.”
Solomon says, as a country, more can be done to promote children’s rights.
“We must continually promote the rights of children, educate and empower children and the general public. And provide relevant training and implementation monitoring to uphold the highest standards for all children.”
According to Solomon, organisations must be allowed to work more closely with the commissioner’s office.
“Children’s organisations must get involved in assessing the work, achievements, and impact of the outgoing Commissioner, identify challenges, and work to ensure that the independence and powers of the Commissioner are secured.”
Lucinda Evans, founder of Philisa Abafazi Bethu, a non-profit organisation (NPO) working with abused women and vulnerable children in Lavender Hill, said she would have wanted to see more action from the commissioner during her tenure.
“What we thought we would get from the commissioner never happened.
“I would’ve wanted to see the commissioner’s voice behind the safe relinquishing of babies savers. That there be an addendum to the Children’s Act in terms of that we legalise the save the safe relinquishing of babies in baby savers.
“I would have wanted her to be a bit more present when it came to these big atrocities when children were shot and killed.”
Evans said she hopes the new commissioner would be more vocal and implement policies in the best interest of children.
Challenging
Reflecting on her first term as the Children’s Commissioner, Nomdo described the past four years of institution-building, as challenging, but added that she is grateful for the commitment of the province towards the office of the Commissioner for Children.
When Nomdo appeared before the Standing Committee on the Premier and Constitutional Matters in the provincial legislature in August this year, she updated the committee on matters concerning the institution.
Nomdo said in a press statement that despite being established for four years, the institution continues to grapple with only two permanent employees. “Three funded posts are vacant due to protracted recruitment processes.
“This lack of personnel impedes the Children’s Commissioner’s ability to fully discharge her duties as outlined in the Western Cape Children’s Commission Act.”
Nomdo also informed the Standing Committee that she lacks a permanent office and occupies a temporary space within the provincial government offices.
An appropriate office for the institution was identified in Cape Town. However, she was advised that it may take more than two years to prepare for occupancy.
Nomdo encouraged the public to write to the Speaker of the legislature to initiate the process of appointing a new Commissioner for Children and to publish a timeline to achieve this.
“The public should consider the specific qualities as well as professional and personal traits that they believe are essential in a Commissioner for Children. It is imperative to collectively ensure a seamless transition in leadership for the benefit of our province’s children.”
