The month of May is National Child Protection Month. It is commemorated in our country annually to raise awareness of the rights of children. Protecting children from violence, neglect, exploitation, and abuse isn’t just everyone’s responsibility it’s our moral obligation! Children in South Africa live in a society with a constitution that is meant to protect them and enforce their rights! Having the constitution and even the Childrens Act is one thing, but if there is no enforcement of it then the system fails!
It takes ordinary citizens like you and I, to be alert and involved in safeguarding the most vulnerable members in our society.
Violence against children comes in many forms such as:
- Abuse – can be physical, emotional, psychological or sexual.
- Neglect – is the failure to provide for childrens basic emotional and physical needs.
- Exploitation – is the use of a child for another person’s advantage.
- Violence – can happen at the hands of individuals known or unknown.
The following stats were shared by KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza in a recent article in the Sunday Tribune. “In the fourth quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year, the department handled 828 cases of child abuse, with sexual abuse topping the reported cases at 423, followed by deliberate neglect at 271, physical abuse at 112, emotional abuse at 53, abandonment at 21 and child abduction at one. Among the districts, eThekwini South reported the highest number of cases at 198, followed by uMgungundlovu at 129, eThekwini North at 109, and King Cetshwayo at 108.” These numbers are truly alarming, especially when one considers that these are just the reported cases. No one knows how many cases go unreported.
Reasons that prevent children from speaking up are complex. These are just a handful of them. The abuser is the bread winner of the family, a family member living in the same house or close by, a ‘trusted’ family friend, mother’s new husband, the next-door neighbour’s son, a respected member of the community know by everyone, the child is known within the family/community as a troublemaker, so who would believe their story?
In South Africa, the Children’s Act emphasizes mandatory reporting of child abuse for a long list of professionals who come into contact with children. Chapter 7, 110. (2) states that ‘any person who on reasonable grounds believes that a child is in need of care and protection may report that belief to the provincial department of social development, a designated child protection organisation or a police official’.
If you need help or know of anyone in need of assistance, please take note of the following numbers:
The Department of Social Development has a pilot 24-hour call centre dedicated to provide support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence:
The toll-free number to call is 0800 428 428 (0800 GBV GBV) to speak to a social worker for assistance and counselling.
Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
You can also get help at:
Childline South Africa: 0800 055 555
Child Welfare South Africa: 0861 4 CHILD (24453) / 011 452-4110 / e-mail: info@childwelfaresa.org.za
References:
https://www.gov.za/news/commemorative-events/child-protection-week-2024
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/child-protection-month-all-children-deserve-a-safe-environment