Free State Premier urges SA to protect children

As the week long Child Protection Week draws to a close today [Sunday] Magashule said: "I call upon Educators, Parents, and the Community to pay special attention, in order to understand and learn more about the important social issues affecting our children."

Child protection week started on Monday and concludes today under the theme: "Working Together to Protect Children".

International Children's Day was commemorated on Saturday 1 June as a day dedicated specifically to raising awareness and alleviating the plight of Children all over the world. It was first proclaimed by the World Conference for the Well-being of Children in 1925 and then established universally in 1954 by the UN General Assembly to protect children working long hours in dangerous circumstances and allow all children access to an education.

On Thursday, Magashule observed the week by handing over school uniform (school shoes, jerseys and tracksuits) to 1,205 needy children.

The Special Programmes Unit in the Office of the Premier is working with the Department of Social Development in the province to ensure that all other responsible bodies such as Government Departments, Municipalities, and Non-Government and Civic Bodies create an atmosphere of care for the children of the province.

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini during the course of the week urged all South Africans to come together to support National Child Protection Week by wearing a green ribbon, and to report cases of child abuse, neglect and exploitation to social workers and police officers.