Pupils and teachers from half a dozen Wells Estate and Motherwell nursery schools staged a protest march on Monday to raise awareness about the violence experienced by children in the Gqeberha township.
Shepherded by their teachers and waving placards calling for a halt to abuse, and the right to education, protection and “the right to cry”, groups of youngsters made their way to a meeting point in Jijana Street.
From there they proceeded to the Wells Estate Multi-Purpose Centre, where they met the local police station commander and nurses from the clinic.
Co-organiser of the march, Shanita Daniso, a teacher at the Solakha Ikamva Day Care Centre, carrying a speaker blaring an upbeat tune in one hand, said enough was enough.
“It’s time for our children to speak out and if they are too young to do so then it is time for us to teach them how to do so.
“This is a peaceful march aimed at raising awareness about what is going on here.
“We will be praying as well for the lost lives.
“These children have rights and they are being violated.”
Daniso said three recent incidents emphasised how dangerous it was for children in Wells Estate.
“Twelve-year-old Buhle [Mhlana] was shot last month during a fight between members of the community.
“Four-year-old Nakane [Lizane] has been missing since May.
“A Coega Primary School grade 1 pupil burnt to death in a shack fire last week.”
Daniso said the violence against children stemmed from multiple factors.
“One of the things is money. Adults try to make money illegally like selling plots and electricity that does not belong to them.
“Conflict results and children are sometimes caught in the middle because they are inquisitive.
“Alcohol use by adults is another big problem.
“It is up to us, the adults, to fix these things and the only way to do that is to sit down and talk and sort the issues out.”
Besides Solakha Ikamva, Bathande, New Dawn, Zusakhe and Masilunge day care centres also took part in the march.
Daniso said the event had been a success.
“There were lots of children, teachers and parents there.
“We had hoped that the councillor of our ward would be there.
“However, the commander of Swartkops Police Station was there and he talked to the kids about the work the police do in an effort to protect them, and how they must not be afraid to report problems.
“The Wells Estate Clinic was also there and the nurses talked about the importance of immunisation and taking care of clinic cards, and that kids must not be afraid to come and see them if they are sick.
“Thank you to everyone who has been involved — it has been a wonderful day.”
Ward 60 councillor Thembinkhosi Mafana said he was unable to be at the protest because he was in a meeting, but had sent a representative.
“I am very worried about the situation.
“Our kids are not safe.
“One of the problems is there are very few places where they can play so they walk to these spots alone and they are too young to do that, and perhaps new to the area so they get lost or attacked.
“When you have lots of shacks like we do it is not easy to trace kids once they go missing.
“Parents need to look after their kids and react quickly even if they go missing for 10 minutes.”
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.