Cape Town - When South Africa's annual Child Protection Week kicks off on Sunday, one of the main issues raised will be child labour and exploitation on farms, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Friday.
From Sunday to June 5, the national campaign - which is led by the department of social development - will conduct events and discussions under the theme: “Let Us All Protect Children to Move South Africa Forward”.
“The department of social development as the custodian of the Children's Act will officially launch the campaign at Braakspruit Farm, outside Klerksdorp in the North West,” said GCIS' acting director-general Donald Liphoko.
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“Issues of child labour and exploitation are dominant in the farms and will top the agenda at the launch of Child Protection Week,” he said. Liphoko said he urged all to participate in the programme as the “protection of children is everybody's responsibility and government alone cannot eradicate this scourge”.
He added society and parents must be aware of how important their roles were in protecting children and sounding the alarm on any abuse and exploitation.
To report any suspected child labour, abuse, neglect, or exploitation, Liphoko urged citizens to make use of the following contact points: the department of social development's 24-hour command centre on the toll-free 0800 428 428; dialling the free number, *120*7867#, to request a social worker from the Command Centre; Child Welfare South Africa on 0861 424453 or 011 452 4110; the South African Police Service's Crime Stop on 08600 10 111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.
AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY