Opinion | Child Protection Month: A call to action

When we look into the eyes of our children, we see the very soul of our nation and right now, that soul is being tested. As we mark Child Protection Month 2026 under the theme, Protect Every Child: Report Abuse. End Statutory Rape.

Build Safe Families, it is time to move past polite concern and sound the alarm. South Africa must speak with one voice in reaffirming that our children must never be silenced, sold or exploited. Protecting our children from harm is a national imperative and everyone’s business.

Incidents that threaten the lives and wellbeing of children call for urgent, coordinated intervention, in line with our constitutional democracy that places children’s rights at the centre of our national project.

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Section 28 of the Constitution clearly states that every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, degradation or abuse. Child abuse and statutory rape are gruesome criminal violations.

When a child is exploited in this way, whether at home, at school, online or in the wider community, the harm is not only personal but a direct breach of our constitutional values.

In terms of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, any sexual act with a child under the age of 16 is unlawful, regardless of so-called “consent”. We must reject narratives that excuse adult predation, transactional relationships, coercion or grooming.

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Where children are involved, there is no grey area, the law exists to protect, and society must insist on accountability. One visible indicator of child abuse is the rise in teenage pregnancy, particularly among girls aged 10 to 14, which raises red flags for sexual exploitation.

The consequences are often lifelong and include interrupted schooling, health risks for the mother and child, psychological trauma, stigma and an increased likelihood of poverty and repeated violence.

In response, government is intensifying efforts to break these cycles of violence through a co-ordinated, child-centred approach involving key departments such as the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Basic Education and Social Development, along with child protection services.

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This work includes strengthening prevention programmes, improving referral pathways, expanding access to child-friendly sexual and reproductive health services and ensuring proper investigation and prosecution of cases.

The Joint Parliamentary Inquiry into statutory rape and teenage pregnancy reinforces our collective determination to close gaps in prevention, reporting and consequence management. However, legislation and state services are not sufficient on their own.

Prevention begins at community level, which calls on citizens to speak out. It is disheartening that many incidents remain hidden due to fear, stigma, family pressure, harmful social norms, and limited access to services, especially in rural communities, silencing victims and shielding perpetrators.

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Under-reporting is not a statistical issue but a protection gap that allows abuse to continue. It is therefore up to every citizen to act, recognising that child protection is a mandatory duty for every teacher, health worker, social worker, caregiver, community member and adult when a child is at risk.

We urge parents and caregivers to supervise their children and create safe environments that foster open dialogue with their children and encourage them to communicate and be heard. Schools must also be recognised as safe spaces that identify risk early and report cases without delay.

Religious and traditional leaders can also play their part and make a significant impact by uprooting practices that normalise exploitation. Men and boys must be part of the solution, rejecting harmful notions of masculinity and standing firmly against sexual violence.

Child Protection Month is a reminder and a call to action. Every citizen must speak out and report abuse, as early reporting can save lives and prevent further harm. Let us end the culture of silence by reporting abuse and building communities where every child is protected, supported and enabled to thrive.