Child Welfare South Africa ensures safety for children this festive season.

A child goes missing every five hours in South Africa, as stated by the figures released by the South African Police Service Missing Persons Bureau for 2013.

According to Missing Children South Africa’s statistics, 77% of children are found. Unfortunately, this still leaves at least 23% of the children not being located.

“Children’s safety should be ongoing throughout their lives, but extra caution should be taken during the festive season. They are valuable human beings in our lives who need nurturing and protecting for them to become fully-fledged and valuable members of their families, communities and societies at large. They are also little human beings and as they grow, they need to be heard, to be seen and to be protected and supported, so that they feel valued themselves” says Child Welfare South Africa (CWSA).

CWSA is an umbrella body representing 164 child welfare affiliates and reaches about 2 million children, their families, and caregivers. The organization’s aim includes protecting the children of South Africa from all kinds of abuse, making a difference in the lives of children and establishing networks and partnerships to ensure the safeguarding of our children.

Given the stats of missing children in South Africa, it is evident that we live in a society where the safety of children is compromised, thus parents need to take extra caution this festive season. “Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation” said Nelson Mandela.

Child Welfare Grahamstown shares 5 important tips:

1. Beaches, dams and swimming pools: Drowning is the second biggest cause of accidental death among young children. Parents need to ensure that children of all ages are supervised when swimming and that at the beach or public swimming pool, they swim within the designated areas where there are lifeguards on duty at all times.
2. Shopping centres are very busy at this time of year. If you take your children shopping, keep an eye on them at all times and don’t let them wander off. Teach your child who to go to in a shopping mall if they wander off and get lost i.e. a security guard in uniform, someone at the information desk, or a woman with children.
3. Children at home: Home is a special place, but it’s also where most of the children’s injuries occur. Do your own safety audit to identify hazards and create solutions. If you are working this festive season, ensure someone you trust is looking after your children. Leaving children, at home without supervision, especially of young children, is extremely risky.
4. Strangers: Teach children not to accept anything from strangers especially gifts from people they do not know. Teach them never to go to secluded areas alone, or even with friends, without adult supervision. Children must know their home address and parent’s cellphone number by memory and these numbers should only be given to people of authority (such as police officers or lifeguards).
5. Safety on the road: Ensure children are buckled up with a safety belt and smaller children are in the appropriate car seats when travelling. Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to sit in the front seat, with or without a seat belt. There are many accidents on the roads during the busy festive time.