Edenvale SAPS and community stand together to protect children
The walk started at Don Materra, continued through the town’s CBD and ended at the Edenvale Police Station.
The Edenvale SAPS joined Don Mattera Child and Youth Care Centre and the NGO You Are Not Alone (Yana) to highlight and commemorate Child Protection Week, held from May 29 to June 5.
Local stakeholders highlighted the week by hosting an awareness walk through Edenvale.
The Edenvale SAPS corporate communications officer, Warrant Officer Jacob Mashile, said they held the campaign to promote child safety.
It went under the national theme, ‘Let us all protect children to move South Africa forward’.
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Mashile said officers from various SAPS departments joined and marched through Edenvale’s streets.
The walk started at Don Materra, continued through the town’s CBD and ended at the Edenvale Police Station.
“At the station, the children had the chance to engage with the Edenvale station commander, Colonel Ntombomzi Basholo,” said Mashile.
The Edenvale SAPS management welcomed the initiative and encouraged community members to protect children.
The Child Justice Act 28 of 2019 was the topic of the day.
Mashile said this was the focus so parents and teachers could familiarise it for future purposes.
He said the police would visit schools, clinics, taxi ranks, and churches in the precinct as part of the campaign.
“They will cover various topics, including sexual abuse of children, the importance of reporting child abuse to the police and how and when and where to report child abuse to raise awareness,” said Mashile.
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The SAPS will also partner with other departments like the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Social Development, among others, to engage in activities that ensure children are safe and reports to that effect are tabled and addressed.
Mashile said the SAPS plays a critical role in implementing the Child Justice Act to ensure children in conflict with the law do not become the system’s secondary victims.
“The SAPS, through the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units, also continuously does crime awareness campaigns as part of the unit’s day-to-day activities.
“The operations comprise efforts aimed at addressing and combating abuse against children, educating the public about the importance of protecting children and channels available in the SAPS for reporting child abuse,” said Mashile.
The SAPS FCS unit conducts campaigns in line with children’s rights as articulated in the Children’s Act of 2005, Act Number 38 of 2005.
“As the SAPS, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our children. It is important parents, family members, teachers, and community leaders are familiar with the role they play in exposing suspected child abuse or exploitation,” said Mashile.
“It’s crucial these role players also educate children on their safety. It takes a suburb to raise a child. It is the whole community’s responsibility to take ownership of ensuring our children’s safety,” said Mashile.
