Calls for the release of the more than 200 Nigerian school girls, recently kidnapped by the Islamic militant group Boko-Haram, are intensifying in South Africa.

Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana on Wednesday again called for their safe return.

“We believe that this is a serious violation of the human rights of these girls and a crime against humanity. And we are calling on the whole world to stand up and fight against this horrific incident,” the minister said.

She was addressing about 600 girl learners from Moletsane High School in Soweto.

Yesterday marked exactly a month since the girls were kidnapped from a school in Chibok in north-eastern Borno state.

The minister urged South Africans to continue to stand in solidarity with the abducted school girls and their families and called for their immediate release, by using every avenue and platform available to say #BringBackOurGirls!

The South African government will work closely with the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) and the government of Nigeria to assist with any support which they might need to ensure that the girls are found.

Learners at the school yesterday made a guard of honour and carried placards which called for the release of the Nigerian girls.

“We call on those who have taken the girls to return them because when you touch kids, you've gone too far, especially when it's kids trying to get an education,” said grade 12 learner Itumeleng Madidimalo (18).

Boko Haram's name translates to "Western education is a sin" in the local language. The group especially opposes the education of women. Under its version of Sharia law, women should be at home raising children and looking after their husbands, not at school learning to read and write.

On Monday, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau offered to release the girls in exchange for militants imprisoned by the Nigerian government. Reports have emerged that the Nigerian government is ready to negotiate with the militant group for the release.

Meanwhile, a 30-member team from the US is in Nigeria to help with the search for the kidnapped girls. The US is also using satellite imagery and making reconnaissance flights over Nigeria. Britain has also sent experts to help with the search.

Minister Xingwana also used the occasion- which coincided with the annual Cell C Take a Girl Child to Work Day – to motivate the learners to further their education, saying it is an important weapon in the fight against poverty and gender based violence.

“The fact that the girls were taken from their school while they were writing exams says to us that their captors recognise that education is a powerful instrument of emancipation. They want to rob the Nigerian girls of their right to a better future and assign them to a life of poverty and abuse.”

Minister Xingwana said it was important that pupils, particularly girls, take advantage of the opportunity presented by government to learn about different careers on offer.

"The future is really in your hands. You can be whatever you want to be. Just go for it.”