Partnership aims to protect children

A partnership between the KZN Department of Social Development and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) KZN Scholar Transport was recently unveiled, to launch Child Protection Month.

This was launched by KZN Social Development MEC, Mbali Shinga, in the Free State and Pietermaritzburg last week, where representatives from the Ugu District also attended.

Under the theme, ‘Working together in ending violence against children’, Shinga said the partnership with SANTACO sought to ensure and strengthen the protection of children to and from the school under the care of SANTACO KZN Scholar Transport drivers.

At the launch, Shinga gave details on the integrated programmes and activities to be embarked on during Child Protection Month as well as the weekly themes to be focused on during the implementation of Prevention and Early Intervention Programmes (PEIP) intended to fight the scourge of violence and crimes against children.

She said the violence in South Africa continues to harm children and families.

“Evidence suggests that the rates of abuse are alarming, the most prevalent in KZN being sexual assault, followed by deliberate neglect and then physical abuse, and all these allegedly happening at the hands of parents/caregivers and or within the family environment. Violence also harms families across generations, as well as communities and constitutes one of the key drivers of the HIV pandemic in the country,” she said.

Shinga added that one of the areas of collaboration and partnership is that of scholar transport taxis playing the role of ambassadors for the department through dissemination of educational awareness and information intended to empower communities and the public on matters of care, protection and support of children.

Shinga showcased branded KZN Scholar Transport taxis carrying advocacy messaging for public awareness, which will assist in strengthening the protection of children by parents/caregivers, families and communities at large.

Meanwhile, KZN SANTACO scholar transport chairperson, Mandla Mvubu, said they fully support the initiative of strengthening the protection of children and ending violence against children.

“We welcome the initiative of the department to collaborate with us, as we are the custodians of scholar transport and this initiative will empower us to make informed decisions when issues of violence against children arise”, he said.

Mvubu added that the initiative has seen drivers get training in first aid across districts, which he feels will add value to the drivers’ skills.

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