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This piece explores why community investment should go beyond delivering social outcomes to intentionally creating work opportunities for young people. It highlights how embedding youth employment into project delivery can strengthen communities, support families, and help address the country’s youth unemployment crisis.

At Save the Children South Africa, we believe that meaningful change happens when young people are not only beneficiaries of programmes but active partners in shaping solutions. Through our Skills to Succeed and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) programmes, of young people were equipped to make informed choices, build their confidence and access opportunities that support their future.

Human Rights Month may have ended, but the values it celebrates, dignity, equality and freedom, must endure every day. These rights, enshrined in our Constitution, are meant to protect everyone. Yet for many children in South Africa, they remain out of reach.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) is establishing a pool of qualified and experienced Facilitators, Assessors and Moderators to support the delivery of accredited Early Childhood Development (ECD) qualifications and skills programmes through its QCTO-accredited training initiatives. Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development PractitionerSAQA QUAL IDQUALIFICATION TITLE97542Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development PractitionerSuccessful candidates will be contracted on an as-needed basis to support training, assessment and moderation activities across South Africa.1. Facilitator – ECD Qualifications and Skills ProgrammesPurpose of the RoleThe Facilitator will be responsible for delivering accredited ECD training programmes and supporting learners to acquire the knowledge, skills and workplace competencies required to successfully complete QCTO qualifications and skills programmes.Key ResponsibilitiesFacilitate accredited ECD learning programmes in line with approved curricula and learning materials.Prepare lesson plans, training schedules and learner support activities.Deliver learner-centred, participatory and practical training sessions.Monitor learner attendance, participation and progress.Provide academic support, coaching and mentoring to learners.Maintain accurate learner records and training documentation.Ensure compliance with QCTO, SETA and SCSA quality assurance requirements.Submit training reports and supporting evidence as required.Minimum RequirementsRelevant qualification in Early Childhood Development, Education or related field.Accredited Facilitator qualification.Registration as a constituent Facilitator with the relevant Quality Assurance Partner (where applicable).Minimum 3 years' experience facilitating accredited ECD programmes.Strong understanding of QCTO and occupational qualification requirements.Excellent facilitation, communication and learner support skills.Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel.2. Assessor – ECD Qualifications and Skills ProgrammesPurpose of the RoleThe Assessor will be responsible for conducting fair, valid, reliable and consistent assessments of learners enrolled in accredited ECD qualifications and skills programmes in accordance with QCTO assessment requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesConduct formative and summative assessments against qualification requirements.Evaluate learner portfolios of evidence and workplace learning evidence.Provide constructive feedback to learners.Ensure assessment decisions are valid, reliable, fair and consistent.Complete all assessment documentation and records accurately.Identify and address assessment gaps and learner support needs.Participate in assessment standardisation and quality assurance processes.Maintain compliance with QCTO and SCSA quality management systems.Minimum RequirementsRelevant qualification in Early Childhood Development, Education or related field.Registered Assessor qualification.Registration as an Assessor for relevant ECD qualifications or occupational certificates.Minimum 3 years' experience assessing accredited ECD programmes.Sound knowledge of outcomes-based assessment principles and QCTO requirements.Strong report-writing and documentation skills.Ability to work independently and meet quality assurance standards.3. Moderator – ECD Qualifications and Skills ProgrammesPurpose of the RoleThe Moderator will be responsible for ensuring the quality, consistency, fairness and integrity of assessment processes and assessment decisions across accredited ECD qualifications and skills programmes.Key ResponsibilitiesConduct internal moderation of assessment processes and learner evidence.Verify the validity, reliability and consistency of assessment decisions.Review assessor practices and provide recommendations for improvement.Ensure compliance with QCTO quality assurance requirements and organisational policies.Prepare moderation reports and quality assurance documentation.Participate in verification and external quality assurance processes.Support continuous improvement of assessment and moderation systems.Provide guidance and mentorship to assessors where required.Minimum RequirementsRelevant qualification in Early Childhood Development, Education or related field.Registered Moderator qualification.Registration as a Moderator for relevant ECD qualifications or occupational certificates.Minimum 3 years' experience moderating accredited ECD programmes.Strong understanding of QCTO quality assurance, moderation and verification processes.Excellent analytical, report-writing and quality assurance skills.Ability to maintain impartiality and high professional standards.General Requirements for All RolesDemonstrated commitment to children's rights and safeguarding.Understanding of the South African ECD sector, National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and ECD regulatory environment.Experience working with NGOs, community-based organisations and ECD centres will be an advantage.Strong organisational and administrative skills.Ability to travel and work in diverse community settings.Commitment to SCSA's values of Accountability, Ambition, Collaboration, Creativity and Integrity.Child SafeguardingSave the Children South Africa has zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation and neglect. Successful candidates will be required to comply with SCSA's Child Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and screening requirements, including criminal record and Child Protection Register checks.Location1. Northern Cape, Gasegonyana and Tsantsabane Municipality2. Eastern Cape, Kouga Municipality3. Mpumalanaga, Enhlanzeni District4. Limpopo, Polokwane Municipality

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) proudly celebrates six remarkable young people from our networks who sat for their matric exams in 2025, and every single one passed, with several earning distinctions. Their academic success is a testament to resilience, determination, and the support of families, communities, and partners who believe in children’s rights.

Become a regular giver and save a child’s life today.

At Save the Children South Africa (SCSA), we are committed to creating a world where every child has the chance to thrive. In 2022, we embarked on a powerful partnership with Clarins to address the pressing issue of food insecurity in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres. Implemented across multiple provinces, including Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Gauteng, our partnership is bringing vital support to vulnerable children across these regions. Child hunger affects millions of children in South Africa, with far-reaching consequences for their health, education, and future prospects.

By Gugu Xaba – African women have long been at the forefront of philanthropy in their communities, exemplifying “love in action” through courage, cultural integrity, and care. At a recent Adɔyɛ Dialogue hosted by Wits University’s Centre for African Philanthropy and Social Investment, we celebrated iconic women leaders – like Dr. Barbara Masekela and Ms. Sibongile Mkhabela – whose legacies light the way. Their example inspires an Adɔyɛ (an Akan word meaning “love in action”) ethos that views philanthropy as an expression of care, solidarity, and service. It was a great honour to join them in conversation and reflect on how African women’s purpose-driven leadership is transforming society.

Virgile Madua KIKAYA is a seasoned public health leader and program manager with more than 20 years of progressively responsible experience in MNCH – FP, HIV/TB, Malaria, NTDs, Global Health Security (GHS) and program management across several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr Kikaya serves currently as Jhpiego Country Director in DRC and its Global Technical Director for GHS. Throughout his career, Dr Kikaya has demonstrated leadership, innovation and program implementation successes in introducing new public health approaches. Dr Kikaya work includes the introduction and expansion of community-based treatments for NTDs and Malaria in pregnancy, of HIV prevention services for males including VMMC and of competency based maternal and neonatal capacity building around day of birth. More recently, Virgile has been focusing on improving countries capacities for International Health Regulations and GHS. Virgile’s work has been published in peer review articles and highlighted in various media. Dr Kikaya passion remains improving locally led public health initiatives and contributing to social development on the continent. Dr Kikaya has collaborated and worked successfully with various donors and UN technical agencies including WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID, US-CDC, the Global Fund, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNITAID and GAVI. Virgile obtained a medical degree from the University of Lubumbashi, DRC, a Master’s in Public Health from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, and a Master of Science in International Development and Management from Lund University, Sweden. Virgile is a board member of the Global Health Security Network, the convener of the Global Health Security Conference.

Over the past three decades Tanya Abrahamse has participated in, advised on, and led a range of local, national and international initiatives, processes, organisations and institutions in the spheres of environment, natural resource management, biodiversity, tourism, climate change, knowledge management and science and development. She has sat on a number of formal boards and committees in the private and public sector giving her insight into the optimum roles and responsibilities of board members for good governance to build robust organisations and institutions. In the past five years she has been the Chair of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), a panel member of the UN Environment International Resources Panel (UN -IRP), an advisory board member of the UN Institute for Advanced Studies (UN-IAS). In South Africa she sat on the Women’s Development Bank (WDBT) advisory board and was a founding member of the Mapungubwe Institute (MISTRA) - a think tank. Previously she sat on the transitional task team to form Future Earth - a global platform of science for society and sustainability, and was a member of the inaugural Science Advisory Board of the UN Secretary General (UNSG -SAB). After her formal education she carried out natural resource management, land use and agricultural projects and research at local levels including in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and on her return to South Africa worked for an environmental NGO that engaged in a number of rural projects. After South Africa’s democracy in 1994 she became chief director in the Presidency on the implementation of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), and later deputy DG in the national environmental department responsible for Resource Use covering biodiversity, heritage, marine and coastal management and tourism. Between 2000 and 2006 she was CEO of the Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA) and from 2007 and 2017 she led the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) whose mandate included leading the biodiversity information management system, heading the human capital and job creation effort for the green sector and initiating and running the implementing entities for the Global Adaptation Fund (GAF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for South Africa. Now retired from formal employment, she is keen to use her long experience and knowledge to support institutions and organizations that have a mission to overcome the challenges to sustainable development.

Lebohang Storom is a highly accomplished Chartered Accountant with 14 years of experience in strategic finance, corporate finance, and tax strategy. With a Master's in Taxation and an MBA from Duke University, he possesses a strong technical foundation in financial management, taxation, and business administration. Lebohang's expertise encompasses financial system implementation, cost optimization, and financial analysis, with a proven track record of delivering high-impact results, including implementing financial systems on time and within budget, and achieving significant cost reductions of over 75% through meticulous analysis. His technical expertise extends to corporate governance, risk management, and stakeholder relationship management, with notable experience as a Financial Impact Analyst in the complex Steinhoff fraud case. Lebohang's achievements demonstrate exceptional leadership, strategic finance capabilities, and a keen ability to drive fiscal responsibility, making him a valuable asset in his role as a board member.

Mxolisi is a social entrepreneur and development strategist with a strong passion for inclusive education, child rights, and community-based innovation. As the Executive Director of Ubuntu Inclusive Centre, he spearheads initiatives providing inclusive early childhood education, accredited skills training, and healthcare services to children with disabilities in under-resourced communities. Additionally, Mxolisi co-founded Gifftid AI, a cutting-edge "AI for Good" platform that leverages data-driven tools to empower SMEs with access to capital, commercial partnerships, and measurable impact. With a solid foundation in finance and monitoring & evaluation, complemented by executive training in social finance, social entrepreneurship, and systemic impact investing from esteemed institutions like Oxford University, GIBS, and UCT Bertha Centre, Mxolisi brings a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and commitment to equity. His expertise positions him to drive innovative solutions and informed decision-making, ultimately advancing the rights and wellbeing of children in South Africa.

Sam currently serves as Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at Doctors Without Borders, supporting the overall implementation of philanthropic strategies and activities to garner financial support for MSF’s medical humanitarian action. Driven by a deep-seated passion to fight for justice and empower African women, Sam founded an award-winning social justice and advocacy platform using a mobile legal office and technology to extend access to justice to marginalized women and children. This innovation was recognized by UN Women (Singapore Committee) and the Master Card Foundation’s “Project Inspire”. Her work was also nominated for the Justice Entrepreneurship School, she attended HiiL and won second place at Innovating Justice at The Hague (Peace Palace).Sam was also the Acting Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Development Academy (EDA) at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), University of Pretoria. Her role at GIBS included representation in EXCO and MANCO with extensive managerial input over an 11-member team, strategic decision-making, programme design, budget control and stakeholder relationship management; with significant contractual drafting, analysing and monitoring.

Devastating Reality: Another Child's Life allegedly lost to Maternal ViolencePretoria, 15 July 2025- Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) was devastated when the news of Jayden-Lee Meek's death first broke, our hearts were shattered by the loss of a bright and promising 11-year-old life. The thought of such a young boy being brutally taken from his family, friends and community was deeply destressing. Now, with the recent arrest of his mother in connection with his death, we are left grappling with a new wave of horror and grief. The revelation that a parent, someone who should have protected and nurtured him, is implicated in his death is a painful reminder of the darkest attitudes and views of our society.

South Africa has seen a troubling increase in cases of child abuse, including in spaces meant to nurture and protect - such as schools, NGOs, and community programmes. Inadequate reporting mechanisms, limited safeguarding awareness, and weak implementation of policies expose children to ongoing harm. You are invited to attend this practical two-part webinar series empowering organisations to implement child safeguarding policies that protect children across all settings. What to Expect This webinar is designed as a practical and policy-aligned capacity-building tool for stakeholders who interact with or fund child-centred initiatives. It aligns with South Africa’s Children’s Act and emerging global expectations on child safeguarding compliance. Session 1: Foundations of Child Safeguarding Tuesday, 10th June 2025, 14:00 - 15:00Understand the legal and ethical obligations of safeguarding children under South African lawIdentify signs of child abuse, neglect, and exploitationIntroduce practical safeguarding policies and reporting mechanisms Session 2: Practical Steps/Approaches to Strengthening Child Safeguarding Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 14:00 - 15:00Equip participants with tools to create or strengthen child safeguarding policiesHighlight best practices through peer learningEmphasise the role of funders and leadership in driving a safeguarding culture Who should attend?Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)Local NGOs and service providersSchool leadership and teachersDonors and GrantmakersDistrict officials (DBE, DSD, SAPS FCS)Please click here to register for this critical event

South Africa has seen a troubling increase in cases of child abuse, including in spaces meant to nurture and protect - such as schools, NGOs, and community programmes. Inadequate reporting mechanisms, limited safeguarding awareness, and weak implementation of policies expose children to ongoing harm. You are invited to attend this practical two-part webinar series empowering organisations to implement child safeguarding policies that protect children across all settings. What to Expect This webinar is designed as a practical and policy-aligned capacity-building tool for stakeholders who interact with or fund child-centred initiatives. It aligns with South Africa’s Children’s Act and emerging global expectations on child safeguarding compliance. Session 1: Foundations of Child Safeguarding Tuesday, 10th June 2025, 14:00 - 15:00Understand the legal and ethical obligations of safeguarding children under South African lawIdentify signs of child abuse, neglect, and exploitationIntroduce practical safeguarding policies and reporting mechanisms Session 2: Practical Steps/Approaches to Strengthening Child Safeguarding Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 14:00 - 15:00Equip participants with tools to create or strengthen child safeguarding policiesHighlight best practices through peer learningEmphasise the role of funders and leadership in driving a safeguarding culture Who should attend?Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)Local NGOs and service providersSchool leadership and teachersDonors and GrantmakersDistrict officials (DBE, DSD, SAPS FCS)Please click here to register for this critical event

Pretoria, 2 May 2025- Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) welcomes the guilty verdict in the Joshlin Smith case- a testament to the unwavering dedication of law enforcement and a beacon of hope for justice. Yet, it also lays bare the harsh reality of child abuse and exploitation that plagues our nation. Child abuse is a heinous crime that leaves deep emotional, psychological and sometimes physical scars, often irreparable. South Africa's laws provide a framework for protection, but inconsistent implementation and enforcement leave children vulnerable. The Joshlin Smith case highlights the urgent need for collective action to safeguard our children.

42% of Children in South Africa Experience Violence: It's Time to ActGauteng, 30 April 2025- Today, on the International Day to End Corporal Punishment of Children, Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) stands unwavering in its commitment to protecting every child's fundamental right to a life free from violence. Despite South Africa's groundbreaking progress in prohibiting corporal punishment in all settings, the harsh reality is that many children continue to suffer in silence. The 2019 Constitutional Court ruling that struck down "reasonable chastisement" was a monumental step forward, positioning South Africa as a beacon of hope for child protection in Africa.

OUR SUPPORTER CARE TEAM IS READY TO HELPFor general enquiries please contact Rose Mahlela on 012 430 7775 or email [email protected] For donor enquiries please contact Thabo Modisane on 067 812 0157 or [email protected] media enquiries please contact Banele Senatla on 072 799 5467 or [email protected] report any incidents of fraud, corruption, misconduct or unethical behaviour and child abuse or exploitation please contact the Save the Children Ethics and Fraud hotline on 0800 604 605 or [email protected]

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Save the Children is gravely concerned about the safety of children as heavy flooding claims the lives of more than 300 people including children in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal and with more heavy rains expected.

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Children at the centre receive a balanced cooked meal every day, for many this is the only food they get.

CONOCE MÁS ACERCA DE PATROCINIOSAnaAna tiene 7 años y se hace cargo durante todo el día de su hermanita Regina de 3 su hermano Juan de 6 años de edad.Su papá ya no vive con ellos y su mamá trabaja más de 10h diarias para poder mantenerlos.Ana se encarga de cuidarles y de que nada malo les pase mientras están solos.CarlitosLa mayoría de los días, Carlitos no tiene nada que comer.A sus 9 años, sufre de desnutrición.Siempre le acompaña Pinto, su perro del cual nunca se separa.“A veces sólo me dan un bolillo, pero da igual lo que tenga, siempre lo comparto con él” PacoPaco lleva más de 1 año sufriendo de graves infecciones estomacales.La falta de higiene y salubridad en la que vive le ha hecho enfermar de manera grave.Sus padres hacen muchos esfuerzos porque reciba los servicios de salud adecuados, pero no siempre lo consiguen.MaríaMaría sólo espera que no vengan de nuevo a abusar de ella.Tiene 6 años y reconoce que no le gusta guardar los secretos que le piden guardar.Su oso de peluche es su mejor confidente.

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Every child deserves the chance to grow up safe, healthy, and hopeful. At Save the Children South Africa, we work tirelessly to protect children’s rights and provide life-changing support where it’s needed most. Your contribution helps us deliver urgent aid, create lasting change, and give children the future they deserve. Explore our campaigns to see how you can get involved and make childhood possible.

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Our Goal: To strengthen evidence-generation and build capacity of partner organisations and government in five provinces to increase access to basic services and livelihood for 15 000 migrant children, especially girls.

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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

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Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has granted $1.3 million to NGO Save the Children in South Africa for youth entrepreneurship and social innovation projects over a three-year period. Save the Children has been adopted as part of the Accenture Skills 2 Succeed (S2S) programme. Accenture has been working with Save the Children in other countries, but this is the first time they have engaged the South Africa cohort.

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Every child has the right to nutrition and health. Every mother should be given the opportunity to enjoy their maternal rights, this means exclusive breastfeeding.That’s why as an organisation, we want to see a world where mothers are supported on their breastfeeding journey. Read this new full-time working mother’s breastfeeding journey here.

The scourge of violent crimes committed against children in South Africa is at an all-time high, the country has been marred with numerous reports of gruesome crimes against children in recent weeks. Our country’s history of violence and inequality compounded with today’s high poverty and unemployment rates, places many children at risk of domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

For as little as R5 a day, you will witness how your support transforms the lives of children in South Africa.

Save the Children South Africa calls for the protection of children as widespread flooding and heavy rains sweep through the country. The Co-operative Governance Department (COGTA) confirmed 12 deaths due to flooding in seven provinces in the country - four people in Mpumalanga, three in Eastern Cape, and four in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Gauteng. Many others were swept away by the rains and are still missing, thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.

Upskilling the country’s youth is key to future success and an area that requires urgent input is digital transformation.

The overall pass rate for the matric class of 2022 is 80.1% - a 3.7% improvement since the previous cohort. Minister Angie Motshekga announced the official National Senior Certificate results on 19 January and commended the resilience and determination of the class of 2022; who rose to the occasion despite facing much adversity in their final years of schooling – Covid19, load shedding and service delivery protests to name a few.

There is a growing global movement advocating to include a broader range of skills, competencies and values, beyond numeracy and literacy, in education policies and curricula. This movement manifested within Sustainable Development Goal 4 – “to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”.

In commemoration of International Migrants Day 2022, which is observed yearly on the 18th of December, to mark the anniversary of the 1990 adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and members of their Families. Save the Children South Africa in partnership with The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA), would like to draw attention to the importance of Universal birth registration and documentation of migrants and other vulnerable children in South Africa.

Play Builds Brains. Let's Play! One of the most overlooked and undervalued approaches to developing cognitive, social and emotional capital is play. Research over the past 30 years has taught us that play is one of the most important ways in which young children gain essential knowledge and build more complex, higher-order skills such as creativity, critical thinking and collaboration.

Floods and torrential rains hit South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal for the second time in two months. Torrential rains have once again created havoc for families in eastern South Africa, just a month after the worst floods in living memory killed more than 400 people and made nearly 7,000 people homeless.

Save the Children calls for greater protection of children as KwaZulu-Natal floods cause devastation. Save the Children is gravely concerned about the safety of children as heavy flooding claims the lives of more than 300 people including children in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal and with more heavy rains expected.

When I was a “Guiri” *Guiri is an informal Spanish slur used in Spain applied to foreign tourists, particularly from Great Britain, but can be applied to other Northern European countries.

More than 350 children murdered in South Africa between Oct and Dec 2021

Please download your freee positive affirmations to be included in lunchbags/boxes for school-going children. ENDS About: Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. For more information about Save the Children South Africa visit: www.savethechildren.org.za Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SavetheChildrenSouthAfrica Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SaveChildrenSA

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Save the Children South Africa and Nal’ibali partner for Literacy Week Literacy holds the key for education and employment success. In 2016 we saw that 78% of Grade 4s could not read for meaning in South Africa in any language. This situation is further deteriorating by additional factors coming into play. We know that children are currently experiencing up to a year of learning losses due to school disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional compounding factors include civil unrest, damage to schools, and destruction to libraries as we have recently seen in KwaZulu-Natal. The implication of this is that our children have less opportunities to boost their literacy.

We have failed to protect the right of every child to an education. We are in an education emergency. Save the Children calls on all parties to immediately focus on Saving our Education.

We are facing an education emergency. Save the Children is calling on all parties to the violence in South Africa to cease immediately damaging and destroying schools, so that children can return to school once COVID-19 lockdowns are over.

South Africa: Save the Children calls for greater protection of children as violence spreadsPretoria, South Africa, 13 July 2021: Save the Children is gravely concerned about the safety of children during the civil unrest in South Africa following the reported killing of a 15-year-old boy in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, among the protesters.

South Africa is currently experiencing extreme public violence, and everyone is trying to make sense of this. Some blame the jailing of our former President, Jacob Zuma. Others point to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions that have exacerbated high unemployment and food insecurity. Still others bemoan a lack of law and order. But we should be asking ‘what does all of this mean for children, and the future of our country?’

Save the Children is gravely concerned about the safety of children during the civil unrest in South Africa following the reported killing of a 15-year-old boy in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, among the protesters.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) is dismayed to learn of the incident in which an Eastern Cape mother allegedly sold her newborn twins for R50 a day to support a drug addiction. As this case was brought to the attention of authorities through a tip-off, SCSA also applauds the community for its awareness and action.

In the past few months there has been a recurrence of protests across South Africa’s universities over free education. We see the headlines; we hear the voices on the news. I am in no way diminishing the importance of this topic but I do want to draw our attention to those that are unseen and unheard. Those who do not get to protest. Those who are not eligible for university entry because they got lost from the education system along the way.

April 30 marks the International Day of Action to End All Corporal Punishment of Children. As part of building global momentum to end all forms of violence against children (as captured in Sustainable Development Goal 16.2), Save the Children South Africa (SCSA), alongside the End Violence Global Partnership, is encouraging individuals, government, and organisations to commit to ending corporal punishment against children. In South Africa, corporal punishment is already prohibited by law both in the school and home settings. However, it is still practiced in some of our schools and homes.

Although the right to birth registration is entrenched in the constitution of South Africa, it is estimated that each year about 100 000 children are not registered at birth in South Africa and 86% of undocumented children in our education system are South African. Without a birth certificate, most schools turn these children away.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) recently launched the Advisory Board. A panel of highly-influential individuals set on making a difference for children in South Africa by using their connections, voices and positions to do so. We are excited about the opportunities this new venture will bring us all and how it will shape the way we work with each other and our partners on the ground.

Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) calls on the Department of Basic Education to take tough action against the Principal of the Mbilwi Secondary School in Sibasa, Limpopo. Preliminary findings of the South African Human Rights Commission, have revealed that he failed to take appropriate action after the family of the late Lufuno Mavhanga alerted him to the bullying incident.

Save the Children South Africa’s CEO Steve Miller has been appointed as a member of the Executive Committee of the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children. The Global Partnership and Fund to End Violence Against Children were launched in July 2016 by the UN Secretary-General. The Partnership is the only global entity focused solely on Sustainable Development Goal 16.2: ending all forms of violence against children (VAC) by 2030.

Children as young as 11 are being beheaded in the Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado, Save the Children said, as conflict continues to displace thousands. The agency recently spoke to displaced families who reported horrifying scenes of murder and grief and the loss of loved ones.

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A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, children across the world have lost an average of 74 days of education each due to school closures and a lack of access to remote learning, Save the Children said today – more than a third of the standard global 190-day school year.