But I have decided it is not worth the effort or the time to dwell on this debacle, as if the government thinks they have fooled anyone into believing millions is needed for security measures that include an amphitheatre or a chicken run.
Let us rather focus on something far more important, which is National Child Protection Week, which was commemorated once again, recently, to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Children’s Act of 2005.
The campaign that began in 1997 also aims to mobilise all sectors of society to ensure the care and protection of children.
Ironically, children in South Africa live in a society with a Constitution that has the highest regard for their rights and for the equality and dignity of everyone, where protecting children against violence, exploitation and abuse is not only a basic value, but also an obligation.
This is clearly set out in Article 28 of the South African Constitution.
Yet, every day we see the constant abuse of children who are molested, raped, murdered, tortured and used for child pornography or human trafficking.
Three recent events have shown a resolve by this country to address the rights of children – two were court cases and the other is the introduction of the new visa rules.
Firstly, thumbs up to our judicial system, which sentenced a man described as a “child porn kingpin” to 10 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the possession, distribution and manufacturing of child pornography.
Antony Evans was sentenced in the Grahamstown High Court. He was arrested earlier this year in a joint operation by the police’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units and the US FBI.
His criminal activities attracted the attention of the authorities in the US after seven people, who were using a specific website, were arrested.
Evans is believed to have been the web administrator of the site. Authorities said the website’s core activity was to lure children to engage in acts of pornography.
Authorities said about 600 victims, aged between eight and 13, most of them from the US, had been exploited via these websites.
Such people, who exploit innocent children for perverted pleasure, have no right to be part of society. Some have already argued 10 years is a far too lenient sentence – I agree.
Such acts are simply immoral, barbaric and inhumane. Shame on anyone who is involved in child pornography – from those who watch it to those who produce the videos.
Secondly, it came as a surprise to some when, recently, in Boksburg, former tennis legend Bob Hewitt was sentenced on charges of sexually abusing children.
The case was heard some three decades after Hewitt, who back then coached his victims, tried his luck.
Well done to the justice system for restoring some sort of faith that our children’s right to be safe is of high importance.
Thirdly, there are already moans and groans regarding the new visa rules that might have a negative impact on our tourism industry.
The new regulations may seem burdensome, but there is nothing more important than the safety of our children, even if the tourism sector suffers.
As of June 1, South Africa’s new Passport and Travel Documents Act officially took effect.
Under the new legislation, South Africans and foreign nationals travelling with children under the age of 18 are required to produce unabridged birth certificates.
It is part of the government’s commitment to safeguard the best interests of children and prevent child trafficking.
In 2012, a movie entitled Trade of Innocence hit the big screens to raise awareness regarding the horrendous world of human trafficking, especially involving children.
The message of the movie was simple – it calls on everyone to make a difference in the fight to eradicate modern slavery.
One can visit www.justice-generation.com to find out more about how to join the movement against human trafficking by supporting certain action partners and their programmes, while educating others about their work.
Human trafficking is, after all, one of the fastest growing industries in the world. This criminal activity affects every nation in which millions of people become enslaved each year – we should, thus, all sit up and take notice.
The new visa rules are an important move by the government to address and even, in some sort of way, halt human trafficking.
Children across the world, in every nation, are not safe – that is the bottom line. Either they are targets of sexual offenders (many times within the family itself), or of human traffickers criminals who have no regard for life.
It is time we consider the rights of our children and start taking action to ensure their safety and protection.
Abuse of children should never be tolerated and this campaign should be whole-heartedly supported and endorsed.
