Kidnapping and abuse of children has become a serious threat in communities across our country and needs to be urgently addressed as it is fast becoming out of control.
The IFP in the KZN Legislature, as the Official Opposition, believes that it is high time that child safety awareness campaigns are launched in all communities after the body of a ten year old girl was found in uMkhomazi, south of Durban. A man from the community who was last seen with her is reported to have been arrested in connection with her death.
This tragic incident must serve to galvanise parents and community members to always keep a watchful eye on their children and be aware of their whereabouts to ensure their safety. Often times there are reports of children being taken for ransom or are raped and in other cases their body parts are alleged to be sold to traditional healers to make muthi.
Some parents tend to treat child safety as a given despite the many reports and repeated warnings of child kidnapping and abuse cases. It is an irrefutable fact that such cases in South Africa has been on the increase and we should never become complacent about our children’s safety on their way to school or around their homes. This problem needs government’s urgent intervention with a multi-sectoral approach that must involve various government departments and civil society.
Stranger awareness is a matter of teaching children rules to keep them safe from unknown persons as well as adults who they may be familiar with since in many cases of child abuse the perpetrators are close family members or associates. As the IFP we strongly underscore the need to prioritise all children’s safety. We call upon on all citizens to be become whistleblowers to protect children against any forms of abuse, even from within their own families.
It is of great concern that despite Government’s responsibility to protect and assist vulnerable young people, child prostitution and sexual abuse continue to rise.
We further believe that first and foremost parents must play an integral part in the protection of their children. Perhaps the most important way parents can protect their children is to teach them to be wary of potentially dangerous situations – this will help them when dealing with strangers as well as with known adults who may not have good intentions. They must also help children recognize the warning signs of suspicious behavior, such as when an adult asks them to disobey their parents or do something without their permission or ask them to keep a secret, or do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable in any way.
The problem should be urgently addressed since the number of missing children in the country is on the rise.
The IFP believes that child abusers and kidnappers must be swiftly and severely punished.
As we call for those responsible for the murder of this child to be identified and prosecuted without delay, we send our condolences to her family, and friends.
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Contact
Hon Les Govender MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Social Development,
083 9744894
