NEWS

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. 
 

NIAWG commends the Department of Social Development in its extended and progressive effort to provide relief through food parcels, top-up grants, Social Relief of Distress Grant and special COVID- 19 Social Relief Distress Grant. However, we are concerned about the limitations in the eligibility criteria required to access these grants. Application for these forms of relief have required a South African identity document, in some cases are available to refugees and permanent residence permit holders.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) & the DO MORE FOUNDATION, founded by RCL FOODS, have begun the distribution of food aid in several identified communities in South Africa, that have higher rates of poverty. The communities include Eesterust and Mamelodi. The beneficiaries are families with children who are dependent on early childhood development centres and school feeding schemes for nutritious meals. 

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to temporally increase the child support grant. On Tuesday Ramaphosa announced that beneficiaries “will now receive an extra R300 in May and from June to October they will receive an additional R500 each month”.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) is concerned about the continued violation of children’s rights and the destruction infrastructure that is aimed at ensuring that they have a better future. It is shocking that almost 400 schools have been vandalized since the COVID-19 lockdown started.

The National Interagency Working (NIAWG) group on Unaccompanied, Separated and Migrant Children in South Africa would like to commend the Government of South Africa for its stance towards curbing and reducing the spread of COVID-19. The NIAWG would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that in its response the Government of South Africa should ensure that all children regardless of their country of origin or immigration status are protected and included in light of the unique impact of the declaration of a State of Disaster on vulnerable children.

Save the Children warns that the global COVID-19 pandemic threatens to devastate children’s health and education, and cause unprecedented protection needs. In South Africa is appealing for R10 million, as part of the global appeal of $100 million. The amount is needed to urgently keep children and their families safe during the global COVID-19 outbreak, the most serious threat to global health and security in modern times.

School closings, sick friends and family members, isolation at home – these and other factors can cause anxiety and stress for children during this COVID-19 outbreak. As a child rights-based organisation, we’re sharing these drama-based relaxation exercises.