With one mind and heart and language – Child Protection and Safeguarding
- Protect our children, and put safeguards in place for them. Vikela izingane zethu, futhi uzibekele izivikelo.
- Beskerm ons kinders en stel voorsorgmaatreëls vir hulle in plek.
- Tsireledzani vhana vhashu, nahone ni vha vheele zwitsireledzi
A father with a lisp found his children teasing and mimicking him. The youngest, believing his father’s way of speaking was correct, adopted it at school, regressing from his once-clear communication. At a parent-teacher meeting, the teacher asked about his declining speech.
The boy responded, “But my Pa speaks like that. What is wrong with that?”
Lovingly, the father turned to his son and said, “No matter how I speak, son, the important thing is that others understand you. What matters is clarity – making sure our words and out heart carry meaning and unite, not divide.”
He continued: (as any father would in their home language)
- English: “Say ‘say’ in a way that everyone understands.”
- Afrikaans: “Sê ‘sê’ op ‘n manier wat almal verstaan.”
- Xhosa: “Yithi ‘thetha’ ngendlela wonke umntu aqonde.”
- Zulu: “Uthi ‘yisho’ ngendlela wonke ubuntu aqonde.”
Just as the father teaches his son that speech must be understood, we too must ensure that our voices on child protection are heard – clearly, strongly, and with shared purpose.
Yet, clarity alone is not enough. Action is required.
Jaden-Lee Meek was just 11 years old when he vanished just this week, within the gates of his own residential complex. He was dropped off by his scholar transport, yet never made it home. His body was discovered the next day – bruised, still warm, lying on a staircase near his apartment.
Nobody saw anything. Nobody heard anything.
And then there is Cwecwe, a 7-year-old girl whose assault remains shrouded in conflicting reports and unanswered questions, because those who should have come to her aid, were not speaking the same language of the heart and mind.
First, there was an allegation. Then silence. Then clashing statements – from authorities, activists, medical professionals, and even the school itself. If those who could have spoken had spoken, if those who could have acted had acted, would we be closer to the truth? Would justice have been clearer?
Instead, the responses have been uncertainty, avoidance, and bureaucratic failures. The system turned confusion into a reason not to act. The answers that should have protected her have only deepened the silence.
This is not just about one family’s grief or one child’s suffering – it is about the failures of protection, the wrong solutions, and the echoing silence when action was needed most.
Child protection demands unity – not division by differences, political agendas, or harmful rhetoric. It requires truth. It requires courage. It requires urgency.
How can we best express our pain, anger, and frustration while spreading awareness and building understanding? Our marches show we can. Our posters and songs say we can.
Can we call for an end to destructive responses? Can we first seek truth and facts, then respond with compassion to victims and their families?
Can we report incidents with courage and precision? Without a doubt. Only by pooling our wisdom, resources, and humanity can we achieve the best for every child.
Whether we say “sê,” “thetha,” or “yisho,” let our words carry a message of hope, a beacon for a brighter, safer future. The language of protection knows no boundaries, and the time to safeguard our children is always today.
South Africa is hurting. Anger and speculation divide us, obscuring justice and jeopardizing our children’s safety. While frustration is natural, unchecked emotion can lead to hasty conclusions that harm the innocent.
We must allow the law to take its course, acting on truth, not speculation.
Peaceful protests remain vital, but let them build unity, not deepen division. By listening to one another,
sharing knowledge, and working together, we can protect every child in our country.
The safety of our children is not about “us versus them.” It is about standing together, regardless of differences.
Whether we say “sê,” “thetha,” or “yisho,” let our words always convey compassion and protection. The language of safety transcends borders—and the time to act is now.
Photo by Trym Nilsen on Unsplash
