Western Cape Social Development MEC, Sharna Fernandez says society needs reflect on the toll Covid-19 has taken on the physical, emotional, developmental, and mental wellbeing of children.

Today marks the start of National Child Protection Week, 30 May to 6 June 2021.

This campaign is aimed in raising awareness about protecting the rights of children.

Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, officially launched the campaign in Gauteng, yesterday.

Fernandez says her department has protection services to help children across the province.

She adds that the service is there for the public’s use.

“Many of their lives have been upended. For the most at-risk and vulnerable, it may have meant being cut off from support systems and being trapped inside homes, with their abusers. Whilst we have less contact with each other due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are duty-bound as a whole of society, to remain vigilant, take the signs of abuse seriously, and report all pleas for help by vulnerable children immediately”.