Programme Director
Honourable MEC Williams
Honorable Mayor
Councilors
Esteemed Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

We have come together to conclude what I deem a very important program of Government- Child Protection Week. When I say we conclude the program, I merely close the administrative program where one week is set aside to highlight the rights and challenges faced by our future leaders. Child Protection is an everyday responsibility. The Almighty God has entrusted the life and wellbeing of each and every child to us as parents and it is our responsibility to do good on that that God has entrusted to us.
The Department of Social Development introduced Child Protection Week in 1997, in order to raise awareness, as well as to mobilise all sectors and communities towards the perspective of a holistic, development and the care and protection of children. The Child Protection Week has become an annual campaign to educate and mobilise communities to put children first. This year’s Child Protection Week started on the 29th of May 2016 and will end on the 5th of June 2016 with the theme “Let Us All Protect Children to Move South Africa Forward”. The theme is based on the spirit of Moving South Africa Forward.

Children in South Africa live in a society under a Constitution that has the highest regard for their rights and for the equality and dignity of everyone. Protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse is not only a basic value, but also an obligation clearly set out in the South African Constitution. Despite the best efforts of the South African state and civil society to protect children from child abuse, neglect and exploitation, it is a fact that many children still remain vulnerable due to poverty, unemployment, HIV and AIDS, substance abuse, etc.

The government believes that protecting children and creating a safe and secure environment is everybody’s responsibility. The focus of CPW this year is to raise awareness on responsibilities of individuals, families and communities to be self-reliant and to preserve the child’s family structure. To this effect, the Department of Social Development was commemorating the International Day for Families at Nieuwoudtville with the theme “Families: Healthy Lives and Sustainable Future”.

Dames en here, gedurende Kinder Beskermingsweek wat nou ten einde geloop het, het verskeie aktiwiteite in die Provinsie plaasgevind ter bevordering van die beskerming van kinders. Die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling in samewerking met Nie Winsgewende Organisasies was besig met veskeie programme waarby kinders in ECD sentrums, skole, in gemeenskappe en ook ouers van hierdie kinders betrek is. 
 As deel van die Kinder Berskermingsweek het die Departement dialoë by Groblershoop Primêre Skool, Groblershoop Hoër Skool en Strenam Intermediêre Skool fasiliteer waar kinders openlik kon praat oor sake wat hulle raak. Wat uit hierdie gesprekke gekom het is beide kommerwekkend maar ook verblydend. Ons weet dat ons kinders baie uitdagings in die gesig staar. Maar ek weet dat ons ook jongmense wat doelgerig en gefokus is in ons gemeenskappe het en wat ons met trots na kan kyk. Jongmense wat verantwoordelikheid vir hul eie toekoms neem.

Ladies and Gentlemen, according to the children’s dialogues report, child abuse is mainly caused by abuse of alcohol by parents and step fathers. It is for this reason that the department is calling for South Africans to partner with government during Child Protection Week Campaign and beyond. Parents, teachers, caregivers as well as civic and religious organisations must also play their part in the fight against abuse of children.
We know that some parents are afraid of reporting child abusers to the law enforcement authorities. Some parents also accept lobola for their girl children who are minors and are not matured enough to take informed decisions.
This is another form of child abuse which we normally turn a blind eye on instead of taking immediate action which is in the interest of our girl children.
After twenty two years into democracy; South Africans must unite and protect girl children who for many years have been oppressed, marginalised and undermined based on their gender.
We have a responsibility to stand up and fight patriarchy which continues to persist in various societal organisations such as schools, churches and the working environment.
Human rights, as enshrined clearly in the Constitution of South Africa must be enjoyed and realised by all South Africans regardless of their gender.
Dames en here, ons gemeenskappe word ook getuister deur tiener swangerskappe en dwelm gebruik selfs op skoolgronde wat met skok toeneem. ‘n Skool is ‘n instelling waar opvoeding voorsien word en waar toekomstige leiers en gerespekteerde volwassenes gekweek word. Sulke gedrag is total onaanvaarbaar en moet ten sterkste veroordeel en beveg word. En dit is nie net die Regering se verantwoordelikheid nie, maar elkeen van ons s’n. Ons is in ‘n groot mate verantwoordelik vir hierdie toedrag van sake. Dit is ons wat dwelm smouse en misdadigers in ons gemeenskappe toelaat om vrylik handel te dryf en in die proses ons kinders en families te vernietig. En so is dit ons plig om dit teen te staan en stop te sit.

Op hierdie punt wil ek graag met die tieners praat en ek vertrou dat wat ek hier sê sal julle ter harte neem. Die gebruik van dwelms is ‘n besluit wat julle neem. Dit is ook ‘n besluit wat julle kan stop. Die dwelmsmouse sal slegs floreer as daar ‘n mark is om van hul euwel verslawende middels ontslae kan raak. En hulle teer op kwesbare kinders. Dink asseblief diep. Julle word ontneem van die mense wat julle bestem is om te wees en ‘n blink toekoms word julle ontneem. Moenie in daardie slaggate trap nie. Julle hele toekoms lê belowend voor julle. Gryp al die positiewe geleenthede aan en ontwikkel julle self en wees die voorbeeld en rolmodelle vir die kinders wat na julle kom.

Ladies and gentlemen, Child Protection Week in South Africa coincides with the month (June) specifically dedicated to the Youth. It was during this month 40 years ago when the youth of this country confronted the Apartheid regime and denounced being taught in Afrikaans. This was the turning point of what many called the beginning of a revolution which ultimately led to the total collapse of Apartheid-minority regime, and ushered the new era which culminated to the democracy that we achieved in 1994.
Despite the best efforts of the South African Government and civil society to protect children from child abuse, neglect and exploitation, many children still remain vulnerable.
Despite all these challenges; government has done a lot to improve the living conditions of our people, especially children.
To ensure that Child and Youth Headed Households are identified so they can receive necessary support from government; Social Development is in the process of compiling a Child and Youth Headed Register in all Provinces.
To date, Three Thousand Two Hundred and Fourteen Child Headed Households as well as Six Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty Two Youth Headed Households have been identified.
Government is also working hard to address the scourge of child abuse, neglect and exploitation of women and children. To this effect, Cabinet established the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) which is led by Social Development to Combat Violence against Women and Children.
Amongst its interventions, the department established a 24 Hour Gender Based Violence (GBV) Command Centre which provides counselling and support services to survivors of abuse and violence. We encourage survivors of gender based violence to contact 24 hour toll-free number on 0800 428 428.
Callers can also access the free SMS line by dialling *120*7867#. As an alternative, survivors may also call ChildLine toll free number on 0800 055 555 which will be linked with the command centre to integrate social services.
The GBV Command Centre will be linked with SASSA 24hour helpline by the end of July this year. This will help assist all including social grant recipients who experience on their social grant income.
Dames en here, met hierdie inisiatiewe en programme in werking, is dit kommerwekkend dat ons steeds ‘n toename in kinder mishandeling ervaar. Hierdie toedrag van sake vereis daadwerklike aksie van almal van ons as Regering, Nie Regerings Organisasies en van die gemeenskap in geheel om ‘n stop hieraan te sit. Ten einde ‘n gemeenskap op te hef en te laat herleef en ons kinders te beskerm, verg ‘n gesamtlike poging. Die is nou tyd dat ons ons morele waardes moet aanwakker en ernstig besin oor wat die waardes van Ubuntu inhou. Ons moet gemeenskappe en woonbuurte skep waar ons kinders veilig kan speel, woon en leer. Dit moet ‘n gemeenskap wees waar elke kind die beskerming van die gemeenskap geniet. 
In conclusion Ladies and gentlemen, communities must also play their part to ensure the safety of our children and teachers in schools. The opportunity to educate a child begins at birth. From the time children enter this world, they listen, they watch, they explore the world around them. Their world starts small, with only the ability to recognize their mother’s face or the smell of the people that take care of them. That world grows quickly, and within a few short years children are able to broaden their educational possibilities to include an understanding of the families and communities that construct their very sense of life on earth. Setting a strong foundation for a lifelong love of learning is critical in the early years to ensure future success.

I call upon you to protect our schools. If you know about thugs in the community, tell the police. Remember that the children are South Africa's future. You make up the great nation we have fought so hard to bring to fruition. We know you'll make us proud. Through our programmes and projects we are clearly demonstrating that children are a responsibility of all of us. Equally it is the duty of each and every child to look after her or himself. On behalf of the Provincial Government of the Northern Cape and its people, I would like to reaffirm our full support to the International Children’s Day.

Thank you