Pretoria – Soshanguve Grade 7 learner, Karabo Seathlolo, says it is his wish that people who abuse children are arrested and stay in jail for a very long time.
“These people make us afraid to go to school, they must be arrested,” he said.
Karabo was one of the many children who attended the closing ceremony of Child Protection Week in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria on Sunday
The Child Protection Week campaign is intended to make adults and children aware of the statutory protection a child enjoys under the Constitution, legislations, policies and international instruments South Africa is signatory to.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said children have the right to be protected and educated. “Children must be loved and like anybody else, they have a right to a safe environment,” she said.
She encouraged the children to report any form of abuse directed at them and called for communities to keep children safe.
The minister walked through the audience and asked the children individually what they want or how they would want to be treated. Many said they wanted to be protected and loved.
During Child Protection Week, South Africans were encouraged to wear a green ribbon to demonstrate their commitment and support to protecting children’s rights. The green ribbon is a symbol of life and growth associated with children and the colour means that children need to be nurtured and taken care of.
National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega called on communities as well as children to report any incidences or signs of child abuse in their communities.
She urged people to not keep quite when they know that there are children who are being abused.
“We must make sure that we protect our children. Our children must grow to be the adults they desire to be. We have a responsibility to raise our children and show them love,” she said.
Phiyega also urged communities to look after the orphans living among them.
As part of strengthening its commitment of protecting children from abuse, the Department of Social Development launched a 24-hour call centre dedicated to providing support and counselling.
When dialling the number, the victims of abuse or those affected are able to speak to a social worker.
Deliwe Mabandla, a parent, told SAnews that more could be done to protect children when they are at school. “Police must monitor schools and these people who abuse children they must be severely punished,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
