ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: YOUNG VOICES DRIVE URGENT CALL FOR CHILD PROTECTION IN MOPANI”

By Cuma Pantshwa

• Children’s Voices at the Forefront: The ceremony was led by children who used poetry, drama, music, and dance to share their lived experiences and demand an end to violence, abuse, and neglect. Their performances created a powerful, emotionally charged, and advocacy-driven atmosphere.
• Alarming Socio-Economic Realities in Mopani: With over 45,000 social grant beneficiaries in the Mokwakwaila area—most of them children—the district reflects the deep socio-economic challenges affecting child welfare and development.
• A Unified Call to Action: Government officials, children, and community members joined forces to issue a strong call for urgent action against all forms of child abuse, with a clear message: protecting children must begin in the home and involve every member of society.

The official closing ceremony of Child Protection Month 2025 took place in Mokwakwaila Village, located within the Greater Letaba Municipality in Mopani District, Limpopo—a region facing challenges that affect children’s well-being and safety.
The ceremony included a child-led program where young participants spoke about the need to address issues of violence, neglect, and exploitation.
Mopani District—comprising the Greater Tzaneen, Maruleng, Greater Letaba, Greater Giyani, and Ba-Phalaborwa municipalities—is home to thousands of vulnerable children. In this district alone, 45,229 beneficiaries receive social grants from the SASSA Mokwakwaila Service Office. Of these, 32,377 children are supported through the Child Support Grant (CSG), which totals over R18 million (R18,131,120) disbursed in the area. These figures highlight the severe socio-economic challenges many children face daily.
Amid these struggles, the ceremony served as both a call to action and a moment of collective unity. nIn her opening remarks, Deputy Director-General Ms. Siza Magangoe declared:
“Violence, child trafficking, abuse, and all forms of violence against children must end.”
The programme, steered by children, included poetry, drama, music, and dance—offering heartfelt and urgent messages.
In a rousing moment, Ms. Magangoe led the audience in spirited rallying cries:
“Phantsi ka child abuse phantsi!”
Audience: “Phantsi!”
“Phantsi ka child trafficking phantsi!”
Audience: “Phantsi!”
The programme was directed by Dikgang Morudu, President of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament, who guided the performances with clarity.
One of the most poignant moments occurred when a young girl delivered a powerful soliloquy, voicing the pain and fear that many children experience daily. The hall fell silent as she pleaded with the Deputy Minister and officials:
“Please, fight for us. Why are we being harmed? Who are our protectors? Where are the protectors? We are tired of being hurt. We are children. We deserve to be safe.”
This moving monologue was followed by a dramatic skit, performed by children and adults, portraying the different forms of abuse—physical, emotional, and sexual—that children suffer in homes and communities. The performance ended with a resounding call for adults to break the silence, act urgently, and protect children at all costs.
Adding a celebratory and cultural note to the event, children performed the traditional Xibelani dance, known for its rhythmic hip movements and vibrant drumming. “Xibelani” means “hitting to the rhythm” in Xitsonga—a fitting metaphor for the children’s spirited performance, which celebrated cultural pride, resilience, and joy.
The programme—educational, moving, and deeply relatable—was delivered to an audience predominantly made up of children, some as young as three. They watched in awe as their peers shared stories, poems, and messages of courage, pain, and hope.

This ceremony was far more than a ceremonial conclusion—it was a powerful space for truth-telling, reflection, and transformation. Throughout May, the Department of Social Development brought national attention to the critical challenges facing children, including sexual abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, trafficking, abandonment, child murders, and other forms of violence. The closing ceremony reinforced these urgent issues, amplifying the voices of children and renewing the call for decisive action.

As DDG Magangoe appropriately stated:
“Protecting children starts in the home.”
Parents, caregivers, and communities must be the first line of defence in building safe, nurturing environments for children to grow and thrive.
And from the voices of the young performers to the adults in attendance, one undeniable message echoed through the hall:
“Enough is enough. And we will not be silent.”