Zuma urges parents to be extra vigilant during World Cup

Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has urged parents and care givers to be extra vigilant and ensure their children’s safety during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking in Atteridgeville at the launch of Child Protection Week and the Children’s Act, which came into effect on 1 April 2010, Zuma said the extended schools’ closure for the mid-term vacation will leave large numbers of children without full time supervision.

He said that whilst government will play its part, parents and caregivers also have to be extra vigilant and ensure that their children are supervised and provided with guidance at all times.

“Whilst we are celebrating, let’s be vigilant to those who see the world cup as an opportunity to take people to other countries.

“Children wandering alone in shopping malls and football stadiums will be vulnerable to people with evil intentions,” Zuma said, warning that human trafficking is a threat that must be taken seriously.

Global trade in human trafficking is estimated at 32 Billion US dollars annually, six to eight hundred thousand people are trafficked annually and lured by offers of employment, education or a better life and end up in foreign countries.

Approximately 80 percent of victims are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minor children.

He said government departments including UNICEF, police, justice officials, social workers and other service professionals are preparing to provide assistance in host cities and other areas.

“Dedicated provincial anti-human trafficking police coordinators and task teams have been established. There are competent human trafficking investigators in every Organised Crime Unit and regular training workshops are presented to the police, especially to front line officers working at ports of entry,” Zuma said.

This year’s Child Protection Week, which runs from 24 to 30 May 2010, will focus on the protection of children during the World Cup.

Zuma said the event created an environment for communities to leave a long-lasting and positive legacy for the country’s children and future generations.

“We want this tournament to generate enthusiasm for sports amongst children, the future Bafana Bafana squad will hopefully emerge from our primary schools this year, from children who will be inspired by the soccer world cup,” he said adding that the tournament will ensure investment in the country’s football facilities.

Minister for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya urged communities to go back to basics where, every person was responsible for every child in their community.

“We need to go back to basics, in that your child is my child and that it takes a whole village to raise a child,” she said.

Children from local day care centres handed over a copy of the Children’s Act to the President. It covers all aspects of child protection and development and makes it a crime to traffick children.