THE HISTORY OF CHILDLINE GAUTENG

The South African Childline movement was initiated in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa in 1986 in response to the dramatic increase in child abuse.

The high incidence of calls from the Gauteng region prompted the South African Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect to open services in Johannesburg in 1988. At that stage,

Childline Gauteng consisted of a small group of dedicated volunteers, a pager and a resource manual.

The service was brought under the auspices of the Johannesburg Children's Home (JCH) in 1992, who - in conjunction with the staff and volunteers - facilitated Childline's growth for the next six years.

Childline's expansion has resulted in the establishment of an independent autonomous organisation in 1999, which operated in association with JCH.

Childline Gauteng celebrated its eighteenth birthday in 2005.