North-West University Launches Ground-Breaking Forensic Unit to Safeguard Vulnerable Children
- Karen Scheepers
- Jul 17
- 3 min read
A quiet lecture theatre at North-West University (NWU) erupted in applause this week as academics, social-service practitioners and justice officials celebrated the opening of the university’s new Family & Child Forensic Unit (FCFU). Housed within the Centre for Health & Human Performance’s Care2Kids division, the multidisciplinary hub is being hailed as South Africa’s first university-based service that combines court-ready forensic assessments with trauma-informed therapy for children at risk. Spearheaded by renowned forensic social worker Prof Cornelia Wessels, the unit aims to close a widening protection gap exposed by rising referrals of abuse and high-conflict divorces to social-service authorities.
A Child-Centred Response to Rising Abuse
South Africa’s child-protection statistics paint a stark backdrop. A Statistics SA Mbalo Brief released in June reports that one in three girls and one in five boys experience violence before turning 18, while the Department of Social Development logged more than 26 000 cases of abuse and neglect in the 2024/25 financial year. Statistics South AfricaSAnews
President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly called gender-based violence and violence against children the nation’s “second pandemic”, urging an accelerated, multisector response.
Against this landscape, NWU’s initiative sets out to ensure that children’s voices are heard in both therapeutic and legal arenas, preventing further trauma during investigations and court proceedings.
Inside the Family & Child Forensic Unit
The FCFU brings together social workers, psychologists, speech-language therapists, occupational therapists and legal scholars under one roof. Their mandate is broad yet sharply defined: deliver evidence-based forensic assessments that courts can rely on, then guide families through the healing process once the gavel falls. The Guardian
Prof Wessels notes that the foundation for the unit was laid when NWU became the first South African university to offer a master’s degree in forensic practice for social workers back in 2018. “We have trained professionals for years; now we’re giving them a single, child-friendly space in which to collaborate,” she said at the launch. The Citizen
Bridging Therapy and Justice
Unlike many hospital-based child-protection units that focus solely on clinical care, the FCFU’s primary client is the court itself. Caseworkers compile detailed, multidisciplinary reports that answer legal questions about a child’s best interests, competency or trauma impact. Should a matter proceed to trial, expert witnesses from the unit testify to the methodology and findings, boosting the evidentiary weight of children’s statements. SowetanLIVE
The same team then pivots to long-term therapy, mediation and co-parenting support, particularly vital in high-conflict divorces or where neurodiverse children (for example, those on the autism spectrum) struggle with abrupt household changes. “There is life after divorce and abuse,” psychologist Dr Michelle Bach told attendees, emphasising that early, child-friendly interventions can “rewrite relationship blueprints” for survivors.
Training the Next Generation
Beyond direct service delivery, the unit doubles as a living classroom. Social-work and psychology students observe assessments from a discreet adjacent room, later de-briefing with supervisors on best practice and vicarious trauma. Post-graduate researchers will evaluate the efficacy of combined forensic-therapy models, while a growing library of anonymised case material will feed into national curricula on child forensic interviewing. Prof Wessels believes this pipeline approach is vital.
Why Care2Kids Matters
Locating the unit within Care2Kids, NWU’s neuro-development division, provides additional depth. Founded to translate cutting-edge neuroscience into practical interventions, Care2Kids already offers diagnostics, parent coaching and early-childhood programmes across North West Province. Its philosophy of “Touch, Talk, Think and Play to Thrive” dovetails with trauma-informed care: secure relationships and stimulating environments help build resilience in maltreated children. health-sciences.nwu.ac.za
Broader Context: A National Crisis
Government’s own Child Protection Month campaign, launched in May, warns that sexual abuse remains the dominant form of maltreatment, with nearly 10 000 cases recorded nationwide last year. Deliberate neglect and physical abuse follow closely. Minister Sisisi Tolashe has called for community-level partnerships to turn the tide, highlighting parenting-support programmes and psycho-social services as critical pillars. SAnews
NWU’s model directly supports that call by integrating research, service and public education. Monthly workshops will be open to provincial magistrates, prosecutors and social-service teams, while free webinars will equip teachers to recognise and report abuse earlier.
Final thought
South Africa’s fight against child abuse will not be won in courtrooms alone, but NWU’s Family & Child Forensic Unit shows how science, compassion and legal rigor can co-exist under one roof.
By pairing gold-standard assessments with supportive therapy and embedding the programme in a research-rich environment, NWU offers a replicable blueprint for provinces across the country. As Dr Bach reminded launch-day guests, “If the damage is identified early and worked through, children can and do, go on to build healthy, fulfilling lives.” With over 26 000 abuse cases still being logged each year, the urgency could not be clearer.
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