​The rate at which children are being abused calls for a creation of a platform for them to partake on matters affecting them and allow them to propose solutions.
This assertion was made by Gauteng Department of Social Development’s Chief Director Solly Ndweni, on Saturday at a Provincial Child Protection event aimed at commemorating the Child Protection as part of Child Protection Month and this campaign forms part of the 365 Days of Child Protection Program of Action of No Violence Against Children, Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation.

Speaking on behalf of MEC Mbali Hlophe he said, “Allowing children to propose solutions on social ills, blesser syndrome, teenage pregnancy, child abuse underscores the need for children to be heard and given a voice in all matters affecting their plight”.

The program was hosted at Bronkhorstspruit Sports Multipurpose Centre, Tshwane, where children from the local schools attended. The event created awareness on holistic development, care, and protection of children.

Bronkhorstspruit SAPS Colonel Sibiya said, “Crime is a reality in SA and equipping our children with safety information will help them to prepare themselves from any danger that may come their way. Perpetrators should know that as police we will do everything in our power to protect our children because they are our future teachers, nurses, that is why in the police we have a project that every police station must launch and select the junior station commander that will be trained while still young”.

The 2022/2023 financial year statistical records from National Child Protection Register indicates that 21 447 cases of abuse and neglect with Western Cape led with 6916 cases followed by Gauteng with 5 426 and KwaZulu Natal with 2886 cases reported.

Violation of children’s rights in society is increase and this inability to protect children is a growing concern.

In terms of recent statistics released by the National Department of Social Development, the following trends are emerging in the country in terms of violation of children.

This violation can be unpacked as follows: sexual abuse in Western Cape recorded 2249 followed by Gauteng with 2242. Deliberate neglect is the second largest proportion of reported incidences after sexual abuse across all provinces with 6 972 cases during the 2022/2023.

Second highest is Gauteng with 1201. Physical abuse is the third largest proportion of reported cases incidences of child abuse in all provinces and third quarter recorded 668 cases led by Western Cape with 227 and Gauteng 180.

Sexual abuse recorded a total of 9 095 recorded in nine provinces Western Cape recorded 2 249 and Gauteng 2 242. Child murder, the 2022/2023 SAPS annual crime statistics report that 558 children were killed in SA from April to the end of September 2022 and this translates to an average of 9 children per day.