Preschool children fight against abuse
“Most of the children who took part in the march are still at the foundation phase.”
Hundreds of pre-school children recently took to the streets of Mamelodi in a march to stop child abuse.
The march was organised by the Agang Sechaba forum for pre-schools in Mamelodi.
It was attended by more than nine pre-schools from Mamelodi West and East and included police and the members of Tshwane multi-sectoral management Aids unit (Msamu).
One of the organisers and principal of Bright Beginnings Daycare and pre-school, Kgomotso Molokomme, said the aim of the stop child abuse awareness campaign was to teach children about abuse while they were still young.
“Most of the children who took part in the march are still at the foundation phase,” said Molokomme.
“It is unfortunate that last year we could not raise awareness due to Covid-19 national lockdown.
“The march was all about child protection, different kinds of abuse, drug and substance abuse and human trafficking.”
The children marched from 4-ways lounge next to the mosque in Mamelodi East to Rehlabile community hall holding placards and escorted by the police with messages such as “stop child abuse”.
“We wanted to inform the public about the rights of children and that they need to be protected at all times,” said Molokomme.
Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso said no under-age children should go and buy cigarettes or alcohol for elders.
Maheso told children about their rights and that no one was allowed to touch children’s private parts.
“Children should walk in groups to avoid child trafficking and they should not talk to strangers neither should they go into the strangers’ vehicles,” said Maheso, adding that the police were there to protect the children, and they should never be afraid of them.
Mpho Sebopa from Msamu encouraged children not to be afraid to talk about abuse.
He talked about different kinds of abuse and also said the abuse at home also affects children work at school.
Sebopa said children should love each other and stay away from crime.
“The children need to know what they want in life and they must know who they are.
“Therefore, children should avoid crime and drugs and they must always work hard to achieve their goal in life.”
Maheso concluded that children should always report any suspicious-looking person to the police by dialling 08600-10111.
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