All of us have a duty to protect children – police
Do you as a parent or caregiver know about certain dangerous games your child plays/ your children play?
The country again was shocked recently when various crimes against children made news headlines. One of the more recent incidents was the kidnapping, rape and murder of six-year-old Bontle Mashiyane in Mpumalanga.
According to the News‘ sister newspaper, Lowvelder, three suspects appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on Monday May 23 in connection with her murder. They are facing charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, rape and murder. Click here for more.
While the police’s core function is to keep communities safe and secure, they remind all of us about our duty to protect children.
Also read: #ChildProtectionWeek: How to get help
Earlier this week, the police visited a local school to create awareness in preparation of Child Protection Week (May 29 to June 4).
In a statement issued by the South African Police Service in 2019, they already said that violence against children has reached a ‘shocking’ and ‘intolerable level’.
“The safety of our children arises again; with the call to all to ensure that our homes are filled with love, safe from violence and feelings of rejection.
As police we cannot tolerate violence against children. We will fight for their rights and ensure that we serve and protect them like all other citizens of this country. We as members of the police and the community are urged to stand up, be committed and protect a child during and beyond Child Protection Week.”
PROTECTING CHILDREN AGAINST THEMSELVES
Police warned that children who are neglected or left unattended are more prone and vulnerable to peer pressure.
“It is our plea that a safe and secure community should start at home, to protect our children against some games they play. A safe and secure home will better the chances of our children not being exposed to bad influences and dangerous games. Parents or caregivers who are alert can save a child’s life.”
Also read: Cops visit Curro ahead of Child Protection Week
Do you as a parent or caregiver know about the following games?
• The Fire Challenge: In this game, teenagers put themselves literally on fire. They apply a flammable liquid to their naked chests and set it aflame. They do video recordings of such actions and circulate them on social media.
• The Cutting Challenge: This game makes teenagers cut themselves on purpose, take pictures of the injuries sustained and upload them online. Youngsters often think they are part of a popular group when participating in this challenge. It gives them a sense of identity, even though it is highly misplaced.
• The Salt and Ice Challenge: Teenagers first put salt on their skin and then put ice on it. The salt will drastically reduce the temperature of the ice to as low as -26°C, causing severe burns, similar to frostbite. The youngsters do video recordings of such actions and watch how they are performed by others to see whether they outdid their peers.
• Huffing or Dusting: To make them feel high, teens intentionally inhale common household products, such as compressed gas in cans used to clean computer keyboards. Breathing in these chemicals decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, resulting in a brief, euphoric high. It can be very addictive or habit-forming, and can cause profound brain damage. If a poisonous substance is used, it can be very harmful, even deadly.
• Drinking Games: Due to peer pressure, vulnerable teenagers are ‘forced’ to play games involving binge drinking. It can be ‘a lot of fun’ for a moment, but photographs are taken of teenagers being blackmailed into deviant behaviour. Further threats are made that the photographs will be downloaded on Facebook or Instagram (cyberbullying); not to mention the dangers of drunk driving or the life-threatening risks some take while performing dangerous actions on the road.
“All of us have a duty to protect children. We cannot guard our children 24 hours a day, but talking to them, and helping them to understand the dangers of these games can save innocent lives. We are calling upon our communities to rally around their families and ensure that children are protected. Let us all create a safe and secure environment at schools and at home for the vulnerable to enjoy a community life free of fear.
Let us make South Africa a country where children do not have to suffer any form of abuse, but a country where children can play freely because every adult has a sense of responsibility to protect all children.”
