The Gauteng government is committed to dealing with violence against children. Today Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane reaffirmed that commitment at Constitutional Hill.

The Premier and the MEC were presented with hard-hitting statistics about the levels of violence children in the country experience by development and rights-based organization, Save the Children.

According to the report compiled by the organisation, titled Violence Unwrapped, The Social and Economic Burden of Violence against Children in South Africa, one in every three young people would have experienced sexual abuse in their lifetime.

A 2015 study conducted by the Optimus Foundation and the University of Cape Town also shows that:

• 23.1% of young people reported exposure to family violence

 

• 44.5% had experienced theft

 

• 26.2% had been robbed

 

• 19.7% reported persistent bullying

 

• 21.4% reported having been threatened with violence

 

• 19.4% had been attacked without and weapon and 15.9% had been attacked with a weapon

In addition, violence against children cost the economy over R238 billion in 2015.

The Premier and the MEC unveiled a sculpture, containing messages on violence against children that have been placed at Constitutional Hill for the duration of the 16 Days campaign earlier today.

Save the children has also called on policy makers to invest in prevention of violence against children.

The Gauteng Government is currently responding to issues of social transformation and Save the Children will continue to work with government to ensure that South Africa and Gauteng becomes a safer place for children.

The Premier acknowledged the ground-breaking study undertaken by the organization.

“It will go a long way in helping us to understand the conditions and challenges facing our children so that we can design appropriate interventions,” Premier Makhura said.

The Gauteng government invests the largest chunk of its budget in education to empower children.

Government is also intervening to build a safer Gauteng for children by implementing the Gauteng Safety Strategy which has a specific focus on social crime prevention. The plight of children whose mothers are victims of gender-based is also a priority for government and eligible children who are in shelters must receive serious support to complete schooling and further their studies beyond grade 12.

However the Premier acknowledged that partnerships and co-operation were needed to make a significant difference.

Premier said: “We must work together because the challenge we are facing is enormous. The figures are shocking. On this day we are saying NO to abuse and violence against children. Not under our watch!”


Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government