PREPARATIONS FOR CHILD PROTECTION MONTH GAIN MOMENTUM IN EDUMBE, KWAZULU-NATAL

By Precious Mupenzi

• The KwaZulu-Natal rural municipality of eDumbe in the Zululand District will host the launch of Child Protection Month on 3 May 2026.
• Led by the Department of Social Development, this programme is crucial given that gender-based violence and femicide have been declared a national disaster.
• The eDumbe area was selected due to the high prevalence of child abuse cases requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.

Preparations for Child Protection Month have officially commenced in eDumbe, in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal, under the Zululand District Municipality.

The rural municipality of eDumbe, which borders areas such as Abaqulusi (Vryheid), Nongoma and Phongolo, has been identified as the host district for this year’s national launch of Child Protection Month, which will take place on 3 May 2026 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Department of Social Development’s flagship programme takes on renewed urgency in 2026, as it has been elevated to a National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) project. This follows the call by President Cyril Ramaphosa in November 2025, where gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) were declared a national disaster, requiring a coordinated, whole-of-government response.

As part of the build-up programme, social workers from both national and provincial departments of social development have begun rolling out targeted interventions across various parts of the Zululand District. These engagements include direct sessions with schools, traditional leaders, parents, caregivers and communities, aimed at strengthening prevention, early intervention and awareness.

The integrated approach brings together stakeholders across all spheres of government, local, district, provincial and national – alongside NATJOINTS partners. These partners include the South African Police Service, the South African National Defence Force, the State Security Agency, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Department of Health, the Department of Basic Education, and the Government Communication and Information System, among others.

Urgent interventions to tackle child abuse

Speaking ahead of the launch of Child Protection Month, the Director for Children at the national Department of Social Development, Neliswa Cekiso, indicated that Zululand District, particularly eDumbe, was selected due to the high prevalence of child abuse cases, which require urgent and coordinated intervention.

Cekiso further highlighted that statutory rape remains one of the most reported cases, not only in the district but across several provinces.

There is a concerning misunderstanding within communities regarding what constitutes statutory rape, particularly in relation to consent involving minors. It is against this background that statutory rape has been identified as a key focus area for this year’s Child Protection Month campaign, alongside other thematic priorities.

As part of the build-up activities, a series of school-based awareness sessions is being conducted across eDumbe. These include:

•⁠ ⁠Muziwesizwe High School
•⁠ ⁠Nhlakanipho High School
•⁠ ⁠Kwasa High School
•⁠ ⁠Kanyekanye High School
•⁠ ⁠Mthonjeni Combined School

These sessions are led by multidisciplinary teams comprising district managers, programme coordinators, social work policy developers and social workers, ensuring that learners receive accurate information, support and access to protection services.

The official launch of Child Protection Month will take place in eDumbe on 3 May 2026, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including NATJOINTS representatives, provincial leadership, international partner organisations, parents, caregivers, traditional leaders and community members. The launch aims to reinforce a unified national response to protecting children and addressing GBVF.

School briefing sessions

As part of the build-up, an information session was held at the Muziwesizwe High School on 23 April 2026.

Learners shared their understanding of child protection issues, with one 16-year-old learner, who preferred to remain anonymous, speaking about learning something new during the session.

“I did not know that even if both people agree, it can still be wrong if one is under 16. Now I understand what statutory rape is and why it is important to protect ourselves and speak out,” the learner said.

Another learner raised concerns about communication gaps within families, pointing to the growing impact of technology on relationships.

“Sometimes we try to talk about our problems, but our parents are always on their cellphones. You can talk and not get attention, so you just keep quiet. It hurts. Even when they say they are busy, it’s after hours, but they are on apps,” the learner said.

The learner also highlighted the lack of open conversations at home about sensitive topics.

“Some parents are not open to talking about things like contraceptives, so we end up hearing from friends, and sometimes that information is not correct.”

Another learner emphasised the importance of responsibility among young people.

“We must remember that our rights come with responsibilities. We need to respect our parents and teachers and choose our friends wisely,” the learner added.

A local mother and caregiver, Fikile Hadebe, welcomed the initiative, noting the importance of empowering both children and parents with knowledge.

“These sessions are very important for us as parents. Sometimes we don’t have all the information, and our children are exposed to many risks. Now we are learning together as families how to protect our children and guide them better,” she said.

Law enforcement is also playing a key role in the awareness drive. Captain Mbongeni Sibiya from Paulpietersburg Police Station engaged learners, encouraging them to report all forms of abuse and to trust the justice system.

“As the police, we are here to protect you. You must not be scared to report abuse. Speaking out can save your life or someone else’s,” he said.

Child Protection Month continues to be a 365-day programme of action, with government and partners working together to ensure that every child in South Africa is protected, supported and allowed to thrive.