The plight of the South African child

The State of the South African Child report conducted by Deloitte for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) has revealed that violence against children is prevalent in the country.

The report, which aimed to assist the fund address the needs of children in South Africa and to help with its 2020 strategy, states that for the period of 2012 to 2013, 495 540 cases of crimes against children were reported. Out of 50 688 children, 51 per cent had been sexually abused, 25 per cent were victims of common assault while 21 per cent had fallen victim to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The report further stated that 87 000 children lived in child-headed households.

Speaking in Houghton at the launch of the report recently, NMCF chief executive officer, Bongi Mkhabela said the foundation which was born out of the heart of a man who allowed himself to feel and who listened to the stories of many South African children, wanted to change the dire reality and the way society treats its children.

“We want to give back the voice and dignity to the African child and develop partnerships which improve the well-being of children and youth,” said Mkhabela.

“We can’t do it alone and that is why Girls and Boys Town are now our partners because we will achieve amazing things when we work together.”

The report has identified five top priorities which will bring about the desired change in the lives of the children. Those are the rebuilding of self-sustaining communities, the provision of adequate care and support for the first 1 000 days of a child, the development of leadership and management capacity in schools, capacity building for health community workers and locals nurses and the upscaling of teacher development programmes.

“The low matric qualifications, drop-out rates, unemployment, children becoming criminals and child abuse are a big problem in our society,” explained Mkhabela.

“Malnutrition, infant mortality, lack of formal housing also form part of the problem.”

She added that the foundation sought to create safe spaces for all children and they wanted to partner with them in order to achieve this. “We’re not going to be telling children how to be, but we will ask them and help them to create their world. That is the way of doing the Mandela business of hearing them.”

Lee Loynes, CEO of Girls and Boys Town, a private childcare organisation that worked in partnership with the Fund to identify some of the serious issues faced by children, expressed her gratitude to the foundation for allowing them to be part of the journey of changing lives of South African children going forward.

“This partnership aims to identify children and learners who are at risk and strengthen educators and parents to work together more significantly and cooperatively in creating powerful, caring, responsive adults and environments,” she said.

Other guest speakers were Jovial Rantao, Independent Media Ombudsman who spoke about responsible coverage by media on child-related issues, as well a Professor Monde Makiwane chief research specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) who touched on experiences from the field.

The full report is available for all to read on the fund’s website www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com

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