Community activists and civil society organisations call the government to address the root cause of chaos within communities, and to use a holistic approach to ensure that children are safe and protected, particularly those who come from underprivileged backgrounds. Their call coincides with this year’s National Child protection Week, which is observed annually every year from May 29 until June 5.
National Child Protection week is commemorated in the country annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa and in the 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.
Speaking about the impact gang violence has on children living in the Cape Flats, Roegshanda Pascoe, a social activist said, government needs to come up with a multi-pronged plan which will be supported by various role players, all working to achieve the same objective.
“This means that the people and all government departments work together towards one goal, with politics and other matters set aside. All efforts need to be made together to introduce interventions that will restore and redevelop our local communities.
“I feel that we need to address the root cause of the chaos in our communities. These flats must be rebuilt and redesigned into new communities, that will facilitate the development of our people-at the moment, when you look at them, they carry the trauma from the apartheid era, despite us living in a new dispensation,” Pascoe said.
Source: IOL, South African Government, image from IOL: African News Agency