Pretoria - Government on Thursday urged South Africans to be vigilant and safeguard young children in their communities.
It was responding to the deaths of seven children in two separate incidents in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape this week.
“According to the old adage, it takes a village to raise a child, therefore, the onus is on every South African to play their part. We urge communities to look after the children and ensure their safety. Children have a constitutional right to be protected, and such incidents must be avoided at all costs,” said acting cabinet spokeswoman Phumla Williams.
On Monday, two toddlers died from heat exposure after becoming trapped in an unused car in which they were playing in Durban. On the same day, five children - cousins aged between three and seven - were found dead in a disused freezer in their grandmother's yard in Kakamas in the Northern Cape.
At the time, a police spokesperson said it was believed the freezer locked accidentally while the kids were playing inside. Williams urged parents to prevent children from gaining access to items that could pose a danger to them.
“Through various pieces of legislations and policies, government is committed to ensuring the safety of children, however it is also imperative that parents and society be cognisant of the roles that they need to play in safeguarding children.”
African News Agency
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