Call to Prioritise Childrens Safety During Winter School Holidays
The Gauteng Departments of Community Safety and Education have called on parents, guardians and caregivers to place children's safety at the centre of the winter school holidays, as learners spend more time away from the structured protection of the school environment. Public schools across Gauteng closed on Friday, 26 June 2026, and are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. During this period, children are expected to spend more time outdoors, travel to visit relatives and friends, take part in recreational activities and spend longer hours online, making adult supervision and practical safety planning especially important. The departments said the holiday period should be a time of rest, family connection and enjoyment, but warned that children can become vulnerable when they are left unsupervised or exposed to unsafe environments.
Parents and guardians have been encouraged to know where their children are at all times and to ensure that younger children remain within sight of a trusted adult or caregiver. The departments also advised families to teach children important personal information, including their home address, the full names of their parents or guardians, and reliable contact numbers that can be used in an emergency. These simple details can make a major difference if a child becomes lost, separated from family, or in need of urgent help. The call is especially important during holidays, when children may move between homes, public spaces, malls, parks, sports activities and transport routes more often than during the school term.
Road safety is another key concern during the winter break. Children should be taught to use designated pedestrian crossings, avoid playing near busy roads and remain alert when walking, cycling or using public transport. Parents and caregivers were also urged to keep children away from rivers, dams, construction sites, abandoned buildings and other high-risk areas where accidents can happen quickly. In many communities, children use open spaces for play during school holidays, but some of these spaces can become dangerous if there is water, traffic, unstable structures or limited adult supervision nearby. The departments' message is that prevention begins with awareness and everyday vigilance.
Online safety has also become a major part of child protection. With learners likely to spend more time on phones, tablets, gaming platforms and social media during the holidays, parents and caregivers have been urged to monitor children's digital activities and speak openly about the dangers of interacting with strangers online. Children should be reminded not to share personal details, location information, private images or family routines with people they do not know. Digital platforms can offer entertainment, learning and connection, but they can also expose young people to manipulation, exploitation, cyberbullying and unsafe contact if adults are not paying attention.
The departments also encouraged families to involve children in safe, structured recreational, educational and sporting activities. This can help keep young people engaged, supervised and away from risky situations. Structured activities can include holiday programmes, library visits, community sports, church or civic youth programmes, supervised play, skills workshops and family outings. These activities are especially valuable because they give children positive spaces to learn, socialise and develop confidence while reducing the chances of boredom leading them into unsafe environments. The broader message is that child safety should not only be reactive; it should be planned into the holiday routine.
Parents and caregivers were further encouraged to talk openly with children about personal safety and the importance of reporting suspicious behaviour. Children should know that they can speak to a trusted adult if they feel uncomfortable, threatened, followed, pressured or unsafe. They should also be taught that abuse, neglect, exploitation and intimidation are never acceptable. The departments urged communities to play their part by reporting cases of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, missing children or any criminal activity to the nearest police station. Child safety is not only a household responsibility; it depends on neighbours, families, community structures and law enforcement working together.
The winter school holidays offer children a much-needed break from academic pressure, but they also require stronger community awareness. The success of this safety call will be measured by whether families take practical steps before problems occur checking where children are, supervising younger learners, setting digital rules, avoiding unsafe play areas and ensuring children know how to ask for help. By working together, parents, schools, community members and law enforcement can help create safer spaces where children can rest, play and enjoy the holidays without unnecessary risk.
