SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES CHILD PROTECTION MONTH TO STRENGTHEN ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE AFFECTING CHILDREN.

By: DSD News

• The Government of the Republic of South Africa will launch Child Protection Month on 03 May 2026 in eDumbe, KwaZulu-Natal, under the theme “Working together in ending violence against children.”
• Latest data indicates 8,984 reported cases of child abuse in 2025/26, including 3,258 sexual abuse cases, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action.
• The 2026 campaign prioritises strengthening responses to statutory rape through improved reporting, case management, and psychosocial support for victims.

The Government of the Republic of South Africa, led by the Department of Social Development and its partners, will officially launch the 2026 Child Protection Month (CPM) on Sunday, 03 May 2026, at the Prince Mangosuthu Sports Field in eDumbe, KwaZulu-Natal, marking the start of a nationwide campaign aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of children.

The launch is expected to bring together Cabinet Ministers, members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and community stakeholders in a unified call to protect children. This year’s theme, “Working together in ending violence against children,” emphasises the importance of collective responsibility across all sectors of society.

Child Protection Month remains a critical national initiative that promotes awareness and action to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence against children. Despite ongoing efforts, many children continue to face harm in homes, schools, communities, and increasingly, digital spaces.
Recent statistics highlight the scale of the challenge. Data from the National Child Protection Register for the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year recorded 8,984 cases of child abuse, including 3,258 cases of sexual abuse. Additional figures from the Department of Justice indicate an increase in statutory rape cases, rising to 199 in 2025/26 from 127 in the previous financial year.

The data also reflects concerning trends involving children, with reported cases of children committing statutory rape and rape, as well as instances where victims are under the age of 18.
In response, the 2026 campaign will place strong emphasis on strengthening statutory rape case management, including improved identification, reporting, investigation, and the provision of therapeutic services. The goal is to ensure a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach that prioritises immediate protection and sustained psychosocial support for affected children.

The campaign will also intensify efforts to address gaps in mandatory reporting and case handling, particularly in the context of rising teenage pregnancies and persistent levels of gender-based violence and child sexual abuse.

Originally introduced in 1997 as Child Protection Week by the Department of Social Development, the initiative was expanded into a month-long campaign in 2019 to address the growing need for sustained awareness and intervention.

Child Protection Month continues to be anchored in intersectoral collaboration, bringing together government departments, civil society, international partners, and community structures. Families remain at the centre of these efforts as the primary source of care, protection, and development for children.

The 2026 campaign will conclude on Sunday, 07 June 2026 in the Chris Hani District in the Eastern Cape, reinforcing government’s ongoing commitment to building safer environments for all children in South Africa.