Children are our future. Whether you are a parent, a family member, a neighbour or a community member, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children are safe, loved and looked after.
During Child Protection Week from May 30 to June 5, the focus falls on kids’ safety. One of the organisations committed to making everyone aware of the severity of crimes against children and women, is the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Krugersdorp that is part of the West Rand Police cluster.
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This year the FCS is focusing on pre-primary and primary schools as well as junior girls in various schools. The theme of the week is ‘Working together to protect children’.
Captain Paula Terblanche from the Krugersdorp FCS said there had been an increase in cases of bullying, child abandonment as well as missing children.
During Child Protection Week the Krugersdorp FCS will be working with Project Hope, LifeLine, Child Welfare, NG Welsyn Krugersdorp, the Teddy Bear Clinic, and Mogale City to host a bullying/ assertiveness programme. They will also present a self-defence project at shelters and primary schools.
One of the self-defence presentations was given at the West Rand LifeLine offices on Friday, May 27 where Captains Terblanche and Peet du Toit spent some time with various social workers to teach them techniques that can be used to get out of a perpetrator’s grip.
Terblanche explained that the idea is for the social workers to be able to pass on these techniques to children and women in the community.
The most important thing in your life is your life,” she told them, adding that one thing one should always remember is that when you are attacked ‘you run, you yell and you tell’, explaining that as soon as you can get away you run, but while being attacked and afterwards make as much noise as you can to attract attention.
Lastly you tell someone what happened.
Also read: All of us have a duty to protect children – police
Captain Du Toit explained that most rape incidents happen when women are alone and try to take a shortcut through a field while on their way to work. He said one of the safest things women and children can do when they walk to and from work and school is to walk in groups.
At the end of the session those present each received a certificate of attendance.
The team will be very busy this week.
• On June 1 they were at Munsieville Primary school for a bullying presentation
• On June 2 they will be at Phathudi Primary School for a bullying presentation from 09:00
• On June 2 they will be at Magaliesburg Ga Mogale Park to engage with early childhood development centres and community members about bullying from 10:00
• On June 3 they will be at Town School Primary School for a bulling presentation from 09:00
• On June 3 they will be at Project Hope in Munsieville to engage door to door with the community. They will start at the taxi rank at Mayebuye and walk to Hope Park where an event will be held. This will start at 09:00
• On June 3 they will be at Mandela Hall in Tarlton where they will engage with ECD centres, primary schools and community members from 09:00 to 12:00
