THE Department of Social Development has declared May as Child Protection Month – with the aim of preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation.
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THE Department of Social Development has declared May as Child Protection Month – with the aim of preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation. The initiative places special emphasis on combating statutory rape, border safety, and strengthening mandatory reporting.
During a recent sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, the Democratic Alliance (DA) tabled a motion calling on social development MEC, Mbali Shinga, to lead the charge in terms of investigations into the shocking number of child pregnancies in our province.
The call comes after it was recently revealed that during the 2025/26 financial year, 421 children – aged 10 to 14 – fell pregnant in KZN. These figures point to widespread sexual abuse. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be arrested, prosecuted and listed in the sex offenders register.
The DA has further called on the MEC and her department to ensure that there were adequate education programmes in place to protect children from abuse at home, at school and across our province as a whole.
As a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA will continue to stand firmly against child abuse and exploitation. Our children must be protected from any form of abuse, and be given every opportunity to become strong, independent and confident future leaders.
SHONTEL DE BOER, MPL
DA KZN spokesperson on social development