Company Profile
COPES-SA is a community-based non-profit organisation based in Soweto, Johannesburg, which primarily focuses on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

COPES-SA is fully compliant with the statutory requirements of the country. COPES-SA is registered as a Section 21 Company (registration number 2000/025755/08) and has a Section 18A status (registration number 930 012 177), which allows us to offer tax exemption benefits to all our donors. COPES-SA was registered in 2000, and the first Centre was established in Protea Glen, Soweto in 2004 as a pilot project. Our biggest dream is to establish more of these centres in other disadvantaged communities

this theory is in harmony with the old African adage – viz,
“your child is my child.”
1. SYSTEMS THEORY – this theory states that a system is “characterised by the interactions of its components and the nonlinearity of those interactions.” Specifically, the family – both nuclear and extended, the community, and the broader society, particularly in indigenous cultures, play a pivotal role in any child’s life. Interestingly, this theory is in harmony with the old African adage – viz. “your child is my child.” Any programmes therefore aimed to sustain and improve children’s lives, should, largely be driven through these social institutions.

2. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE: Child Abuse and Neglect is a symptom rather than a root cause of children’s strife. Empirical knowledge suggests that this social ill thrives well in conditions of human inadequacy. To compound this further, in developing countries HIV/AIDS (which is both a predisposing factor and a sequel of abuse) is threatening to derail any social gains made thus far for children. This necessitates that programmes that seek to address Child Abuse and Neglect comprehensively, address root causes adequately.

3. MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS: This theory is based on the “progression principle,” i.e. a need at one level only becomes activated once the previous lower level need has been satisfied. Families and communities that are able to take care of their children and continue to self-develop will have to have satisfaction of the lower needs. It however, is important to note that the corollary is not necessarily true.