Bertha Gxowa creates awareness on child abuse

Bertha Gxowa Care Centre hosted its annual Child Protection Week awareness walk from Germiston to the Dukathole Taxi Rank.

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The Ekurhuleni mayor, Sivuyile Ngodwana, councillors, the Department of Health, Germiston and Primrose SAPS, EMPD and others supported the walk.

Hazel Moagi, operational manager of Bertha Gxowa Care Centre, said Push Gym led participants in an aerobics warm-up for the 10km walk.

Along the way, the group handed out brochures with messages against child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking.

Stakeholders, including Ekurhuleni Clinical Forensic Medical Services, Department of Social Development, and ward-based outreach team (WBOT) supervisor Petunia Motshele, halted at the Dukathole Taxi Rank to give talk about abuse.

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“From the morning until the afternoon, several stakeholders provided services at the Dukathole Taxi Rank, such as HIV counselling and testing. Participants then continued their walk via Exit 9 to the Germiston SAPS,” said Moagi.

Ngodwana emphasised that Child Protection Week is an annual international campaign to raise awareness of the significance of protecting children.

For children to grow and thrive, he stated, it is important to guarantee their safety.

“The statistics are shocking. The rising number of child homicides is concerning.

“Many of our children experience various types of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, which can have a catastrophic long-term impact on their psychological, emotional, and physical health,” said Ngodwana.