FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ChildSafe South Africa Lauds Cabinet Approval of the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC)

CAPE TOWN, December 10, 2025 — ChildSafe South Africa, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to reduce and prevent injuries of children through Research, Education, and Advocacy, today lauded the Cabinet’s approval of the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC). ChildSafe played a pivotal role in contributing to the NSAAC, with a particular focus on integrating robust harm reduction and the prevention of unintentional injuries for all South African children.

A Milestone for Child Safety and Well-being

The approval, announced by Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni following the Cabinet meeting of December 5, 2025, represents a decisive commitment to securing a safe environment for every child. This milestone includes the successful advocacy for, and securing of, school zone safety within the NSAAC, a priority previously highlighted in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address earlier this year. The NSAAC document explicitly includes the catalytic intervention to “Implement traffic calming measures and reduce speed in and around school zones”, a major win for child injury prevention.

“The Cabinet’s decision to approve the NSAAC is a profound step forward, affirming that the safety and well-being of our children as a national priority,” said Zaitoon Rabaney, Executive Director, ChildSafe South Africa.

“We believe every child has a right to grow and flourish without the threat of being injured. Unintentional injuries—such as burns, drowning, falls, and road traffic crashes—are the main causes of injury and death of young children in our country, and this strategy is crucial to addressing this preventable burden.”

“Government must now prioritise the allocation of the necessary resources to ensure the harm-reduction components of the NSAAC are operationalised at the provincial and municipal levels. ChildSafe stands ready to partner with government and civil society to bring our expertise, research, and training capacity to the implementation phase.”

ChildSafe South Africa looks forward to the imminent release of the full NSAAC document and remains committed to monitoring its implementation to ensure a safer and healthier environment for every child in the country.

-END-

MEIDA ENQUIRIES

ChildSafe South Africa Shane Everts, Strategic Communications Cell: 061 526 2200 Email: shane@childsafe.org.za

About ChildSafe South Africa

ChildSafe South Africa is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to reduce and prevent injuries of children through Research, Education, and Advocacy. The organisation is a registered NPO with section 18A exemption who works with other non-profits, government, corporates and communities. Our core focus though is the prevention of unintentional injuries that are usually regarded as accidents, such as, burns, falls, drowning, road traffic crashes, choking and poisoning. For more information, visit www.childsafe.org.za

Related Information: