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

“There is no keener revelation of society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children”. These are the words of our forever beloved Late President Nelson Mandela and it holds truth and wisdom. It encapsulates all that I am about to speak on this afternoon.
Dames en here, dit is vir my aangenaam om deel te wees van hierdie belangrike program van die Regering en ek wil teenoor LUR Williams en al die vennote die die Veiligheidsektor my dank betuig vir die voortreflike werk wat gedoen word om te verseker dat al ons inwoners ‘n veilige en gelukkige lewe kan geniet.
My verantwoordelik vandag gaan oor die beskerming van ons kinders en ook die om namens die regering ons misnoe uit te spreek oor die ontstellende groei in die handerl van mense wat algemeen bekend staan as human trafficking. Vandag sluit ons die administratiewe gedeelte van die veldtog af, maar die implimentering van ons planne bly gestand en voer ons daagliks die stryd teen alle forme van misdaad en menslike mishandeling.
Ladies and gentlemen, 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. Safety and security does not just happen, they are the results of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear. 
The Department of Social Development introduced Child Protection Week in 1997 and this is observed in June of every year, 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.
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.

Ons het skok onthullings van kinder verwaarlosing en mishandeling in hierdie area opgetel en dit is rede tot groot kommer. Sedert April 2016 tot aan die einde van Februarie hierdie jaar is die volgende gevalle opgeneem:-
• Emosionele mishandeling is 5 gevalle ondersoek,
• Fisiese mishandeling is 25 gevalle ondersoek,
• Doelgerugtige of te wel verwaarlosing met opset  is ‘n skokkende een honders en veertig gevalle aangemeld en ondersoek, en
• Een honderd en twintig gevalle van seksuele tuistering en seksuele misdaad waarby kinders betrokke is is aangemeld en ondersoek.
U sal dus met my saamstem dat dit nie ‘n gesonde stand van sake is nie en dat ons as ‘n gemeenskap met erns kyk na hoe ons ons kinders behandel en die waarde wat ons plaas op wat kan beskryf word as die grootste gawe wat God aan ons toevertrou het.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, according to the children’s dialogues report released last year, 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 our Child Protection Week Campaign as well as the Safety Month initiative 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 all too well that Children have never been very good at listening to elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. So it is incumbent on us to set good examples and to not only preach about values and morals, but to live them as well, so that it be a guide for our children and those in the community.
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 veral die ouers wat meer betrokke moet raak by ons kinders. 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. Dit is ons plig om ons kinders te beskerm van enige en alle gevare wat in hul pad kom. En ons kan dit op n vreedsame manier doen deur die wetstoepassings owerhede in te lig en sodoende ons kinders ‘n leeftyd van veslawing, onderdrukking en geweld spaar.
 
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. Jou huidige omstandigheide hoef nie noodwendig jou weerhou van ‘n suksesvolle toekoms nie. Dit is in julle hande om weg te breek van die siklus van geweld en mishandeling. Met ‘n sterk wil, die help van die Almagtige en die ondersteuning van hierdie regering kan en sal julle ‘n positiewe en welvaarende toekoms vir julleself kan skep.

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.
Dames en here, ten spite van 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. 
Suid Afrika word ook gelys onder die tien lande in Afrika waar die handel in mense en organe die hoogste is. Die nuutste onthullings is dat nagenoeg Een Honderd en Twintig Duisend mense jaarlike net in Suid Afrika ontvoer en as mense verkoop word. ‘n Paar dae gelede het ons ook gelees dat hier in die Noordkaap mense vasgetrek is vir die skaamtelose misdaad van handel in mense.

En kenners meen dat hierdie syfer nie ‘n ware weerspieling van die stand van sake is nie. Verskeie tekortkominge in wetgewing maak die suksesvolle strafregtelike vervolging van oortreders moeilik, maar die regering werk daaraan om alle leemtes aan te vul sodat ons sterker sake kan bou teen hierdie tipe van misdaad.
‘n Nuutvrygestelde databasis het bevind dat die vernaamste motiverings of faktore vir die handel in mense of the wel “Human Trafficking” in Suid afrika sluit onder andere in seksuele uitbuiting, geforseerde arbeid, dwelms and ‘n skokkende onthulling dat mense hul kinders verkoop vir aanneming en seksuele misdrywe. 
Die handel in menslike organe vir mediese doeleindes en “witchcraft” is ook aan die toeneem.
Suid Afrika is ‘n land waar ons mense maklik kan uitbuit en het ons oor en oor bewys dat ons ‘n samelewing is wat relatiewe lae waarde plaas op menslike lewe en waar ons ook mense as handelsware beskou en behandel. ‘n Baie lae waarde word ook geplaas op veral vroue en kinders. 
En op hierdie punt wil ek ‘n beroep op kinders, veral jong meisies doen om versigtig te wees met die gebruik van sosiale media. Daar is onomwonde bewys dat pedofiele en “human traffickers” konstant die internet en sosiale media verken en soedoende jong kinders om die bos lui en dan ontvoer en gebruik vir alle onheilige dade. Ek doen ook ‘n beroep aan ouers om baie meer betrokke te wees by hul kinders en ten alle tye te weet waarvoor hulle die slimfone, tablette en rekenaars gebruik wat ons ten duurste voor betaal.

Ek se onder geen omstandighede dat dit verkeerd is om hierdie tegnologie aan te skaf nie, maar ons moet versigtig wees en die gebruik daarvan kan monitor. Facebool, Twitter, Instagram en Snapchat is bekende platforms waar kinders genader word met die belofte van werk, gratis klere en lugtyd en ook die belofte van roem en rykdom. Ons kinders word in meeste gevalle dan uit die veiligheid van hul woning gelok met al hierdie beloftes en dan beland hulle in groot moeilikheid. Wees dus paraat en bly op jul hoede oor die gebruik van sosiale media en die internet. 

The war on drugs and drug dependence is real and it is scary. I however believe that working together we can and will prevail. Let us all present here today pledge to end this scourge. Let us all here today pledge to protect our children and communities and that we will keep our children safe from harm and exploitation. Let us pledge today to restore our communities and to no longer harbor criminals and drug peddlers in our communities. Let us pledge to live with one another in the spirit of Ubuntu and humanity. Let us pledge to protect, love and cherish our children. Let us not only worry about what my child will be tomorrow and forget that they are here today to be loved, nurtured and protected.
Let us pledge to embark on a journey to serve our communities and to restore the dignity and pride of all our people as we stand together in the fight against child neglect, abuse and Human Trafficking.
It will be a difficult journey.
There will be practical challenges to overcome.
There are many complex legal, moral and social issues that we will need to grapple with and resolve. But I am confident that we will overcome all these stumbling blocks.
As we do so, we would do well to reflect on the words of Steve Biko, when he said: "We have set out on a quest for true humanity, and somewhere on the distant horizon we can see the glittering prize.” Let us march forth with courage and determination, drawing strength from our common plight and our brotherhood. "In time we shall be in a position to bestow upon South Africa the greatest gift possible - a more human face.
Let us work together to move this community and the nation forward.
I again call upon you to protect our children and also our schools. If you know about a child being abused or neglected please do not hesitate to contact the authorities. Remember that the children are South Africa's future. You make up the great nation we have fought so hard to bring to fruition. 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 Department of Social Development, I would like to reaffirm our full support to Safety Month and we pledge to do what is not only Gods command, but also what we know to be morally right and that is to love, protect and cherish our children.

Thank you