INTERIM MEASURES TO SOLVE THE NOUPOORT PROBLEM

Issued by: Department of Social Development

29 May 2001

The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, has decided on urgent interim measures to resolve the problems at the Noupoort Christian Care Centre in order to ensure an urgent amicable settlement between all stakeholders.

The following steps are to be followed:

1. The court case on the Noupoort Centre has been postponed indefinitely.

2. A task team comprising of the national department of Social Development, the provincial department, the Noupoort centre and parents are to work out mechanisms to register the centre.

3. In the meantime the norms and standards are being worked out that will ensure that the centre works according to the requirements of the law and is in line with the constitution and respect for human rights.

"These measures are aimed at ensuring that the fears of the parents and relatives of the children and inmates at Noupoort are adequately addressed, and that the centre meets the imperatives of human rights as enshrined in the constitution", said the Minister.

The Department of Social Development will closely monitor over the next few weeks compliance with the agreed upon steps and decide whether to close the centre permanently or register it.

Issued by: Ministry of Social Development
Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi: Cell: 083 602 5795