Defend the rights of SA’s children

THOUGH this nation has taken a giant leap in advancing and safeguarding the fundamental human rights of its citizenry, few will disagree that a tremendous amount of work still lies ahead.

This has never been more true than in the case of our children.

There have been some shocking examples of late of children’s rights being violated in disturbing ways.

Five-year-old Lumka Mketwa drowned in a pit toilet at her school in Mbizana in the Transkei last Tuesday – a death that could not have been any more undignified or terrifying.

Elsewhere, in the Western Cape, two toddlers recently died in buckets of water in cases directly linked to the water crisis there.

Yesterday we reported on how the drought is increasing the transmission of bacterial and viral infections, putting infants in particular at risk.

Violence and abuse perpetrated against children is far from uncommon in our schools and homes.

Frequently those responsible are parents, peers, teachers and neighbours.

Footage circulated on social media of a four-year-old being savagely beaten by her mother in Durban as the mother’s boyfriend casually films the incident chillingly drove this fact home to many.

Closer to home, in the Bay, a Lorraine man is facing charges of distributing pornographic material featuring his twin daughters.

Let us also not forget the ongoing gangsterism in Port Elizabeth’s northern areas, where innocent children are routinely hit by stray bullets.

Wherever you turn, our children’s vulnerability is frighteningly laid bare.

As South Africans mark Human Rights Day today we must do more than remember those who fought and died on this tragic day in our country’s history.

In the same way that apartheid was defeated through tireless collective effort we must stand together to defend the rights not only of the marginalised and forgotten, but of those who will be the future of this country.