In an effort to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect, a Langa NPO led a peaceful protest in the area on Monday morning.
Holding placards high at the Langalibalele Road circle, a handful of Project Playground (PPG) members highlighted issues affecting children.
Social worker Nyameka Mzamo said the campaign was informed by the ongoing violence against children.
“It is Child Protection Week but to us at PPG, it is always protection week. We work with children and parents. We are happy that the government created the week. But we feel it is not enough. There are still parents who are not aware of what it really means. There is a social grant for children but it ends in the hands of parents not doing necessary things for the child. We want to stop that. We are saying children have their rights, don’t even pinch him or her. Speak nicely and educate a child,” she said.
National Child Protection Week, marked from Sunday May 28 to Sunday June 4, raises awareness of the rights of children.
Ms Mzamo said parents and the government must pay more attention to children’s health and education as that was important for the future. She said parents should start talking to children about abuse, neglect or mistreatment they are suffering.
“Children are important. They ought to be safe at all times. Our role as parents should be to create a good environment for them within the community,” she added.
Another member, Nazi Rhulumente called for everyone to work together in protecting children.
She said as people who are working with children they have seen some children neglected. She urged parents to educate their children about the abuse and ensure that children’s nutritional needs are met.
“We are creating awareness and reminding people that children have rights too. We work with children 365 days and we are aware of what is going on in our area. But we are saying children must be free to express themselves freely. Today we are here mainly to advocate for our children’s rights and to stop neglect,” she said.
She said they have decided to be the voice of children not only in Langa but all over.
“We all have a role to play in protecting children and young people from child abuse and neglect. We say together we can defeat child neglect. We all rise up against these ills. Many people do not act when they see their neighbours abusing children or any other person. They worry that they will be interfering with the affairs that are not theirs. There is no such thing. We all need to act and report the abuse and neglect,” said Ms Rhulumente.
The handful of members spent an hour singing and talking to passers-by and motorists. After what they described as a successful morning, they went back to their work.
Project Playground is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2010, engaging over 840 vulnerable children and youth in townships even outside Cape Town in South Africa.