News

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) is horrified by the reports of the rape of a two-year-old child at the George Mukhari Hospital, in Pretoria.  The mother of the child left her at the hospital after she was reportedly told that the child needed to be isolated as it was suspected she had COVID-19. 

The importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) is undisputed as a critical time for the rapid development of cognitive, physical, socio-emotional and language skills in young children.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has forced the world’s schools to shut their doors to over a billion children. For the first time in human history, an entire generation has had their education disrupted. 
 

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse progress made for children in Africa by years or even decades, with economic aftershocks risking to push an additional 33 million children into poverty.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) calls for unified efforts to protect children from the heightened risk of violence, exploitation and abuse during the COVID-19 outbreak. Since the start of the lockdown there has been a reported spike in child abuse.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) welcomes the phased-in approach on the reopening of schools. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, announced on Thursday that Grade 7 and 12 learners will return to school on the 1^st of June. The prolonged closure of schools is a risk to the children’s education and wellbeing, especially for the most vulnerable children, who rely on school not only for their education, but also nutritious meals.