First up – CAB2019 must be retracted because it is fundamentally flawed and impossible to patch piecemeal. Secondly – the policy that should have informed the proposed changes has not been finalised, and must be. Thirdly - we need to reconstruct the entire CAB. And then – only then, should the Bill be presented to Parliament.

Good news - #CAB2019 is not formally before Parliament yet, so Minister Zulu can still withdraw it.

Speaker Modise of the National Assembly has confirmed CAB’s status in her letter to me, has acknowledged our petition and that she has referred the documents to Minister Zulu for her information. Ms Modise MP has also confirmed I will have the opportunity to make presentations “should the Bill be revived and introduced in this Parliament”. Committee Secretary of Social Development’s Portfolio Committee, Ms Ntsabo, has assured me in writing that she will “keep me posted on any developments around the Bill” but that the Committee is awaiting the Bill’s “revival and referral” to it.

Please, Minister Zulu, hear us - we know your legislative team is determined to push #CAB2019 forward, regardless. Please consider our most vulnerable children and have regard to our Constitution, case law and international treaty commitments. Please do the right thing and #RETRACT #CAB2019.

We are willing to meet and work with you and any person, organisation or party to put together a Pan-African response to the crisis facing South African children and families. # REWORK. #RE-PRESENT. In the spirit of Ubuntu, let’s all do the right thing. For the common good.