Parents remain on high alert as festive season heightens child safety risks

By Charmaine Ndlela

As schools close and families enter the festive season, parents, caregivers and guardians are urged to place the safety and well-being of children at the centre of their holiday plans.

With children spending more time at home, in public spaces, and online, risks increase significantly when supervision slips.

The festive period is traditionally a time of celebration and travel, but it is also potentially one of the most dangerous times of the year for children.

In South Africa, incidents of child trafficking, kidnapping, road accidents and abuse tend to rise during this period. Parents are encouraged to always know their children’s whereabouts and ensure they are never left unattended in unsafe environments.

Child trafficking has become a crisis that continues to raise alarms and concerns.

According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there’s been