CHILD PROTECTION AWARENESS PROGRAMME EMPOWERS LEARNERS AT DR TATE MAKGOE PRIMARY SCHOOL

By Thembile Nqabeni

• Multidisciplinary stakeholders educated learners on child protection laws, rights, and responsibilities.
• ⁠Correctional Services inmates shared personal experiences to discourage criminal behaviour among young people.
• ⁠A role-play demonstration provided learners with practical insight into the child justice process and available support services.

As part of Child Protection Month commemorations, a multidisciplinary child protection awareness programme was held at Dr Tate Makgoe Primary School on 1 June 2026. The initiative focused on promoting child safety, educating learners about their rights, and raising awareness of the legal frameworks that protect children in South Africa.

The programme brought together key stakeholders committed to child welfare and justice, including a social worker from the One Stop Child Justice Centre, officials from the Department of Correctional Services, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), and Child and Youth Care Workers. Their collective participation reinforced the message that protecting children is a shared responsibility and that “it takes a village to raise a child”.

The primary objective of the programme was to educate learners about South Africa’s child protection laws, the consequences of criminal behaviour, and the importance of making responsible life choices. Discussions focused on the legal processes followed when a child comes into conflict with the law, as well as the importance of early intervention and positive guidance in preventing children from engaging in criminal activities.
A notable component of the programme featured inmates from the Department of Correctional Services who shared their lived experiences with learners. They spoke candidly about the realities of incarceration, the long-term consequences of poor decisions, and the critical role that parental guidance and positive role models play in shaping the lives of both boys and girls.

Stakeholders also conducted a role-play demonstration of the child justice process, providing learners with a practical understanding of the procedures followed when a child commits an offence and the support services available through the One Stop Child Justice Centre.

Ms Tshabalala, a social worker from the One Stop Child Justice Centre, emphasised the importance of psychosocial support for children in conflict with the law. She explained the procedures followed when a child commits an offence and highlighted the need for rehabilitation and guidance.

“There is no child with criminal capacity; children cannot always differentiate between right and wrong,” she said.

Ms Tshabalala further assured learners that social workers remain involved throughout the process to safeguard the child’s wellbeing and support their rehabilitation and reintegration.

The awareness programme served as an important reminder that consistent guidance, legal awareness, and strong community support systems are essential in nurturing responsible, informed, and law-abiding citizens.