MINISTER KUBAYI ACCEPTS MEMORANDA FROM CHILD PROTECTION ORGANISATIONS DURING CHILDREN’S MARCH TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

• ⁠Children took centre stage during a march to the Constitutional Court, voicing safety concerns as part of Child Protection Awareness Month.
• ⁠Minister Kubayi revealed plans to update outdated criminal laws and parole conditions to better tackle the growing gender-based violence and child exploitation crisis.
• ⁠A 90-day acceleration programme is underway to monitor how GBV cases progress through the justice system – a step towards greater accountability.

The voices of South Africa’s children reached the doors of justice as Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi accepted memorandums from child protection organisations during a symbolic march to the Constitutional Court. The march, held in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development, provided young voices with a rare yet urgent platform during Child Protection Awareness Month.
In a heartfelt address, Minister Kubayi commended the courage of the children who participated and thanked the NGOs and government departments involved in the march.
“It is heartening to see children who are aware of their environment and willing to speak up about what is right and wrong,” she said. “We must listen. We must act.”
The Minister expressed alarm at emerging societal trends, including cases where mothers are allegedly commercialising their children and a growing number of sexual offences committed by minors. “This requires urgent societal introspection,” she said, stressing the need to address root causes and community-level breakdowns.
Turning to justice reform, Minister Kubayi announced that key laws are under review, including the Criminal Procedure Act and Parole Act, which she described as outdated in the face of South Africa’s current gender-based violence crisis. “These laws must evolve to meet the needs of today,” she said.

A major development unveiled was the rollout of a 90-day acceleration programme across the JCPS (Justice, Crime Prevention and Security) Cluster to track gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases from the moment they are reported to their final court outcomes.
“We are tracking GBV cases daily—how many are reported, how many make it to court, and how many result in successful prosecution,” the Minister explained. “This gives us a better understanding of where the justice system is failing.”
She also took a firm stance on parole, saying that perpetrators of serious crimes should not be considered for release without full engagement with the victims’ families. “While we do not support the death penalty, we strongly advocate for life sentences with no parole in the most severe cases,” she said.
Minister Kubayi concluded by reinforcing the need for a united, multisectoral approach to protecting children and ending violence. “Justice and Social Development must work hand in hand—while the law prosecutes, social services rebuild and heal.”
The march served as a strong reminder that child protection is everyone’s responsibility—and that children are not only victims but powerful voices for change.

Issued by: Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development
Johannesburg – Sunday, 01 June 2025