The Commission’s Acting Provincial Manager, Shirley Mlombo, says during this week’s visit to schools in Bloemfontein they have discovered that a number of children still have to travel long distances to schools. She says some of the children also allege that they are sometimes turned away when they arrive late at schools. 

Mlombo says the commission is currently investigating a number of cases relating to corporal punishment in schools around the Free State. She says they are currently compiling a report on what they have discovered during this Child Protection Week and plan to launch an investigation into all these issues concerning children and education in the province.

Mlombo says during this Child Protection Week they will visit more schools to ensure that children’s rights are protected. She says the primary aim of these visits is to also educate learners and teachers about human rights and to popularise the SAHRC’s Child Complaints Handling Procedure.

Mlombo says the Complaints Handling Procedure will enable children to lodge complaints directly with the commission without the need for them to rely on a third party.

“Human Rights are meaningless if we are not vigilant to enforce them, and in this case of children’s right, require responsible adults to do what is needed to protect these rights and to ensure that they are safe.”

She urges parents, guardians and communities to come forward to report any cases of violation of children’s rights to assist with the ongoing investigations.

She says they will visit two more schools today.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela