The plan is up against dysfunction within social development departments and fraught relations with NGOs that deliver most services.
About 1,100 children were murdered in South Africa in the past financial year, according to South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics. And estimates prepared by detective services suggest that about 1.181 children were victims of attempted murder and 6,209 were seriously assaulted in just the last three-quarters of the 2024/25 financial year.
It is clear that South Africa has a serious problem of violence against children. As the country marks national Child Protection Week, those mandated to care for its children should step up.
In November 2024, the first-ever Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children took place in Bogotá, Colombia. South Africa’s Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, joined ministers from 102 other countries in pledging an ambitious plan of action to prevent and respond to violence against children.
South Africa committed to several actions by 2027. One was to implement evidence-based parenting programmes in 52 districts to ensure safe home environments for children, and reduce child abuse and the use of corporal punishment by parents and caregivers.
