WESSELTON – The Department of Social Development (DSD), Ermelo police members and the Department of Justice held an awareness campaign in honour of National Child Protection Week at Qambekile Primary School on June 2.

Every year, South Africa commemorates National Child Protection Week with the aim to increase awareness of children’s rights as outlined by the Constitution.

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Stakeholders in the campaign discussed a variety of themes with the pupils, including peer pressure, the effects of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and the issue of gangsterism in the community.

According to Mr Sbusiso Mnisi-Masina, a DSD assistant probation officer, pupils are more likely to become victims of notorious gang members who expose them to criminal activities.

“Learners in primary school should not change their behaviour when they enter high school since that is when peer pressure is most dominant. They should always withhold the principles they received in their earlier years of study,” Mr Mnisi-Masina said.

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He added that schools should always be a safe learning environment, free of crime and gangsterism, and that this depends on the teachers capacity to provide learners with information on crime.

Read the complete article in the Highvelder.