As South Africa prepares to enter level 3 of the COVID-19 Risk-Adjusted Strategy, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, will on Saturday - 30 May 2020, officially launch the annual Child Protection Week campaign at SOS Rustenburg, North West Province.
The theme of this year’s campaign: “Let us all protect children during COVID-19 and beyond”, is a clarion call for South Africans from all walks of life to work together to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children, particularly in the midst of the global pandemic that continues to disrupt children’s lives in many ways.
The declaration of the state of national disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March resulted in a nationwide closure of schools, early childhood development centres and life changing disruptions in children’s daily routines and way of life. These disruptions also heightened the risk of child abuse, neglect and exploitation, particularly in poor and vulnerable communities.
To mitigate the socio-economic impact of the coronavirus on poor and vulnerable families, the South African Government announced a series of extraordinary relief measures, including the top-up of all grant types and the introduction of a 6-month grant of R500 per primary caregiver/parent of children eligible for the Child Support Grant.
Research shows that the Child Support Grant plays a vital role in reducing child poverty and contributes positively to improvement in educational, health and nutritional outcomes for vulnerable children.
This year’s campaign seeks to create a greater awareness of the risks that children face in these uncertain times by engaging families and communities to take a stand against any form of child abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The SOS Rustenburg is a child and youth care centre that provides residential care as well as therapeutic and development programmes for children in need of care in terms of the Children’s Act (Act No. 38 of 2005). Currently, the centre has 84 children between the ages of 2 and 20 years that are placed in the centre in terms of a court order.
Minister Zulu will also use the launch to assess the centre’s state of readiness for level 3 as Grade 7 and 12 learners are expected to go back to school at the beginning of June.
Members of the media are invited to join Minister Zulu for the official launch of the 2020 Child Protection Week campaign scheduled as follows:
Date: Saturday, 30 May 2020
Venue: 22 Cnr Pooe & Ramokgopa Street, Rustenburg-North West Province
Time: 09h00-13h00
The media can RSVP by contacting Ms Sharlene Naiker on 082 673 5849 or SharleneN@dsd.gov.za or Ms Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane on 066 480 6845 / NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za\
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8064 or e-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
