Pretoria – The Department of Social Development will launch the annual Child Protection Week campaign on Sunday at Braakspruit Farm, outside Klerksdorp, in the North West.
During the launch, issues of child labour and exploitation will be of top the agenda.
The campaign will run from Sunday to 5 June under the theme ‘Let Us All Protect Children to Move South Africa Forward’.
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) acting Director-General Donald Liphoko has called on all sectors of society to take part in this significant programme.
“The protection of children is everybody’s responsibility and government alone cannot eradicate this scourge. It is imperative that parents and society are cognisant of the roles they need to play in protecting children and exposing any suspected child abuse activities or child exploitation,” Liphoko said.
Since its inception in 1997, the Child Protection Week programme continues to raise awareness, educate and mobilise all sectors of society to holistically develop, care for and protect children.
“Children’s rights are enshrined in the Constitution and as society, it is our duty to uphold and protect them. Therefore, let us all familiarise ourselves with these rights as well as the Children’s Act,” Liphoko said.
For updates during Child Protection Week, citizens are encouraged to follow the accounts of @GCISMedia; @SAGovNews; @GovernmentZA ; @DsdNews and @The_DSD on social media.
People are also urged to join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #ChildProtection2016. For more information on the list of activities, people can visit www.gov.za and www.dsd.gov.za
To report any suspected child labour, abuse, neglect or exploitation, the public can contact any of the following hotline numbers:
- Department of Social Development 24-hour Command Centre: 0800 428 428 (toll-free). Callers can also request a social worker from the Command Centre to contact them by dialling *120*7867# (free) from any cell phone.
- Child Welfare South Africa: 0861 424453 / 011 452-4110
- SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10 111
- SMS Crime Line: 32211
- SAnews.gov.za
