MINISTER TOLASHE LAUNCHES CHILD PROTECTION MONTH AS MINISTER MCKENZIE MEETS WITH BOYS

By Staff Writer

• Minister McKenzie’s mentorship for boys emphasizes discipline, leadership and mental health, aligning with the national Golekane’s anti-GBVF campaign.
• Statistical evidence reveals that boys are falling behind academically and socially, with higher dropout rates and greater involvement in crime, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
• Child Protection Month will be launched by Minister Tolashe alongside international child protection expert Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, reinforcing South Africa’s commitment to ending violence against children.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, will lead a series of youth development and community wellness initiatives across KwaZulu-Natal from 10 to 11 May 2025, reaffirming government’s commitment to building healthier, empowered communities through sport, mentorship, and public engagement.

A key highlight of the weekend is the Guided by Greatness youth mentorship event, taking place on Saturday, 10 May 2025, at Mangosuthu University of Technology. The initiative is designed to support adolescent boys, particularly those raised in women-headed households, by nurturing values of discipline, purpose, and resilience. Hosted in partnership with Sivusisiwe Africa Initiatives and the university, and held under the theme Discipline, Dream and Direction, the event targets boys in Grades 7 to 10. It aims to address challenges such as substance abuse, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and mental health struggles, while promoting leadership and personal growth.

Minister McKenzie will deliver the keynote address, urging young boys to reject drugs and alcohol, take a stand against GBVF, and aspire to become positive role models in their communities. This programme forms part of the Department’s broader Golekane campaign, a national movement encouraging open and constructive dialogue between men and boys to combat GBVF and promote healthier masculinities.

The Minister’s focus on boys is timely. Earlier this year, during the announcement of the matric results, the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, noted that while government interventions have improved access and performance for girl learners—who outperformed boys in obtaining bachelor passes—there remains a concerning trend where boys are falling behind. Boys tend to stay longer in the school system, yet struggle with progression and completion. “Our interventions need to be strengthened and broadened to ensure we do not leave the boy child behind,” she said.

This gap is also reflected in data presented to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Social Development by Mr Osborn Nongqunga, the Department of Social Development’s Business Intelligence Manager. According to the report, among the 697,502 learners who sat for the 2024 examinations, 79% were social grant beneficiaries—59% female and 41% male. The Department’s Information Management Systems and Technology (IMST) unit, which tracks the educational outcomes of grant beneficiaries, has also flagged that boys are more likely to disengage from school early, often becoming entangled in crime and failing to reach Grade 12.

The challenges facing the boy child are becoming increasingly visible in the education system. While girls are making notable strides, boys continue to struggle with academic progression and discipline. According to data presented to Parliament, young males are disproportionately involved in crime from an early age. In 2024 alone, boys were linked to 339 cases of assault and 94 cases of theft and drug-related crimes.

Nongqunga, presenting the matric results analysis to MPs, noted, “They are falling behind—while the majority of social grant beneficiaries who succeeded were girls, boys are the ones we are losing along the way, both in school and in society.” This troubling trend underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions such as Minister McKenzie’s mentorship engagements to help guide boys back toward education and positive community roles.

In addition to the mentorship event, Minister McKenzie will host a #Move4Health wellness campaign on the same day at Wentworth Park, Durban. Held in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the event marks World Move for Health Day and forms part of the national I Choose 2 Be Active movement, which promotes daily physical activity as vital to long-term health and well-being.

On Sunday, 11 May, the Minister will participate in the Discovery Vitality Run Series: Checkstar Challenge, a 5km fun run at Kings Park Athletic Stadium in Durban. Starting at 07:00, the event encourages community participation in fitness and highlights the Department’s mission to build an active and engaged citizenry.

Minister McKenzie’s engagements in KwaZulu-Natal coincide with South Africa’s observation of Child Protection Month, a time when the nation reflects on the rights, safety, and well-being of its children. This year’s campaign is held under the theme Working Together in Ending Violence Against Children, calling on all sectors of society to unite in protecting the country’s youngest citizens. The Department of Social Development will officially launch the Child Protection campaign in Thaba Nchu, Free State, on Sunday, 11 May 2025, led by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, who will call for stronger community action to safeguard vulnerable children.

Adding to the significance of this year’s Child Protection Month, South Africa will host Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children. Dr M’jid will participate in a series of high-level engagements aimed at strengthening child protection efforts. She will join the official launch in Thaba Nchu, reinforcing the international call to action under the theme Working Together in Ending Violence Against Children. Her itinerary includes visits to key child protection sites, such as the Saartjie Baartman Shelter in Cape Town, engagements with children in Khayelitsha, and discussions on child sexual abuse. She will also meet with civil society organisations, the Western Cape Children’s Commissioner, and Parliament’s social development leaders. In Johannesburg, Dr M’jid will engage with the Pan-African Parliament, the South African Human Rights Commission, and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund before concluding her mission with a visit to a community-based RISIHA intervention site in Tembisa.

As part of this national effort, Minister McKenzie’s focus on empowering boys through mentorship and wellness programmes is a complementary stride towards addressing the root causes of violence, neglect, and social disconnection that many young boys experience. His message aims to inspire boys to choose discipline and direction over destructive paths, supporting the broader child protection goals championed this month.