Gauteng urges parents to keep children safe during winter school holidays

The Gauteng Department of Community Safety (GDCS), in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), has appealed to parents, guardians and caregivers to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children throughout the winter school holidays.

Public schools across Gauteng closed on 26 June and are expected to reopen on 21 July 2026. With learners spending more time outdoors, travelling and participating in recreational activities during the break, authorities say parents must remain vigilant to reduce the risk of accidents, crime and child exploitation.

The departments have urged parents to ensure children are always supervised, know their home address and their parents' contact details, and stay within sight of a trusted adult.

Children should also be taught road safety, encouraged to use designated pedestrian crossings and kept away from dangerous areas such as busy roads, rivers, dams, construction sites and abandoned buildings.

Parents are further encouraged to monitor their children's online activity and educate them about the dangers of interacting with strangers on social media and other digital platforms.

Authorities also recommend enrolling children in safe, structured recreational, educational and sporting activities during the holiday period while maintaining open conversations about personal safety and the importance of reporting suspicious behaviour.

The departments stressed that children should never be left alone for extended periods without responsible adult supervision and encouraged members of the public to report cases of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, missing children or any criminal activity to their nearest police station.

The statement emphasised that while school holidays provide an opportunity for children to rest and spend quality time with family and friends, they can also increase children's vulnerability. It called on communities to play an active role in protecting young people, reinforcing the belief that "it takes a village to raise a child."

Residents have been urged to support community safety initiatives and work together to create safer environments for children throughout the holiday period.

The Gauteng Departments of Community Safety and Education wished all learners, educators and parents a safe and enjoyable winter school holiday.