South Africa Minister calls for child safety during school holidays

South African Social Development Minister Dina Pule has issued an urgent appeal to parents and guardians to prioritize child safety during the September spring school holidays. As public schools close, the Minister warned that children may be more vulnerable to risks such as abduction, sexual assault, exploitation, human trafficking, and gender-based violence.

Minister Pule emphasized that caregivers must remain proactive by knowing their children's whereabouts at all times and avoiding letting them wander the streets without cause. She also urged citizens to alert neighbors or family members if children are left home alone. The Department of Social Development is currently implementing Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) to strengthen community responses and support survivors.