South Africa's National Child Protection Week began on May 29 with the Department of Social Development launching a week-long campaign in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape.
This year, the focus is on teenage pregnancy, the numbers of which rose dramatically during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the National Council of Provinces ( NCOP), about 120 000 learners fall pregnant every year with only about a third returning to school after giving birth. Their records reveal that 200 000 learners did not return to school in 2021.
Speaking to the media during the launch, Deputy Minister for Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu says adult men are largely responsible for teenage pregnancies.
“I don’t know whether I must say let’s protect children, maybe I must start by saying let’s respect children because when you respect somebody you have the energy to actually protect them. I really need to say this, it is older men who are responsible for making these girls pregnant. Half of them have families and half of them know that they’ve got money to flash and big cars. I call them the 4ms, I call them “mature mobile men with money” are my problem.”
National Child Protection Week is commemorated in the country annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children's Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).
The campaign is led by the Department of Social Development in partnership with key government departments and civil society organisations rendering child protection services.
Government calls on all South Africans to support Child Protection Week by ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society do not suffer abuse. It is in our hands to stop the cycle of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children.
If you or someone you know needs help please make use of the following numbers.
The Department of Social Development has a pilot a 24-hour call centre dedicated to providing support and counselling to victims of gender-based violence:
You can also get help at:
