Teachers and activists sound alarm as child abuse cases mount
All SADTU members in Durban Central picketed during break times and after school to raise awareness for Child Protection Week.
Teachers took to school gates, civic organisations renewed urgent calls for intervention, and the conclusion of a harrowing child abuse case in court has once again exposed the dangers facing children in South Africa as communities marked Child Protection Week from May 29 to June 5.
Members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) across Durban staged pickets to raise awareness about child abuse, neglect and the need for stronger child protection measures.
According to SADTU member, Sumaya Khan, teachers used the commemorative week to stand in solidarity with vulnerable children and amplify calls for safer communities.
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“All SADTU members in Durban Central picketed during break times and after school to raise awareness for Child Protection Week. Teachers from Charles Hugo Primary School in Overport proudly participated in the picket, standing together to advocate for the safety, protection and well-being of all children. Together, we continue to raise our voices against child abuse and neglect,” said Khan.
But while teachers carried placards and protested, civic society organisations warned that awareness campaigns alone are not enough.
Jennifer Fisher, founder and director of Women and Men of Valour, said vulnerable children, particularly homeless children, are often overlooked.
“Homeless children are often dismissed simply as criminals and drug addicts,” she said, stressing the need for greater compassion, intervention and protection for children living on society’s margins.
The National Institute of Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO) has also called for collective action, warning that child abuse, neglect and exploitation remain deeply concerning realities.
NICRO urged parents and caregivers to ensure children are supervised and protected from harmful influences, including drugs, alcohol, exploitation and violence, while communities were encouraged to report suspected abuse and support child protection initiatives.
The renewed calls come against the backdrop of one of the most disturbing child abuse matters recently finalised by a Durban court.
Last week, the National Prosecuting Authority welcomed life and lengthy prison sentences imposed on a Durban couple convicted of the repeated abuse and neglect of a minor.
The victim, who was 10-years-old when the abuse began, endured years of torture after moving in with the couple following her mother’s death. Court evidence revealed she was repeatedly beaten, stabbed, burnt with boiling water, deprived of food, prevented from attending school and subjected to severe abuse between 2021 and 2023.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, said on various occasions during this period, the complainant was beaten with a beer bottle until it broke, stabbed several times, and assaulted with a hammer, broomstick or vice-grip.
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“She was further tied up, burnt with boiling water, and deprived of food. The complainant had to steal food to survive, and when she did so, she was assaulted further. The abuse that the complainant was subjected to resulted in her losing her teeth and her hair.”
The child eventually escaped through a bathroom window during a power outage and sought refuge at a neighbour’s home before police intervened.
For many teachers and activists marking Child Protection Week, the case has become a chilling reminder that while awareness campaigns matter, stronger systems of protection, early intervention and community vigilance are urgently needed to ensure children are safe.
“Children need to always be kept safe and away from abuse,” NICRO said, urging communities to report abuse and neglect before tragedy strikes.
