02/06/2026
Peace, Safe Schools & Streets.
Peace, is all we want. We want to be taken care of, go to school, learn and develop, and feel loved, safe and protected. We do not want to worry, and fear getting r***d or killed. This is the wish that unite us to speak out and take actions against abuse, violence and crimes against children.
Our homes, schools and streets are supposed to be safe places for children and adults. But this is not so for many children in Delft. Our rights to be protected from harm are not being respected by those who are supposed to protect us; like parents, family members, and others that come into contact with us every day.
For many children, alcohol and drug use and abuse by parents result in domestic violence, child neglect and trauma that negatively impact their mental health, schoolwork and overall wellbeing. Some parents use their children to buy alcohol and drugs. Others turn a blind eye when their children use and abuse these substances. Drug dealers recruit boys; and boys recruit boys and girls to buy drugs from them.
Children and youth learn negative attitudes and behaviours from their peers, parents, adults, groups, and gangs they live with or hang-out with. Our schools should not allow learners to: -
• smoke, drink, carry dangerous weapons, buy or sell drugs or other substances.
• disrespect teachers and fellow learners with disruptive behaviour.
• be abusive, aggressive, violent, and do as they please.
• threaten, target, extort, bully and assault learners and educators
• Litter, mess-up and destroy school property.
Walking from home to school, or elsewhere and back in Delft can be very dangerous. You always on the lookout, and most times something happens. Children and youth are: -
• harassed, cat-called and threatened on the streets, especially girls.
• swore at, touched, assaulted and robbed.
• Used by adults to do things that is inappropriate or illegal.
• tricked to do things like smoking, drinking alcohols or taking drugs
• Not attending school and hassling on the streets
• Hanging out with people adults that engage in inappropriate or illegal operations
• Engage in risk-taking, or illegal social and s*xual relations and conduct.
• Engage in early s*x and girls become pregnant at a young age.
• Constantly exposed to serious criminal and violent acts
• Dodging bullets of taxi- or gang-related shootings
• Go missing and feared being taken by criminals and traffickers
• R***d and killed.
The march is a protest by us the children and youth of Delft against the gang and taxi-related killings and violence, gender-based violence in homes and in public, s*xual assault, r**e and s*xual exploitation, as well as school-based bullying and violence. Theft and robberies that target our schools and family homes. All these things are hurting the children of Delft. Many do not survive, and we all fear being the next victims.
We are thankful for all parents, educators, health, law enforcement, justice stakeholders, and community groups and members who are fighting hard to protect children from all the harm we are exposed to here in Delft. If not for your efforts, many more children will be harmed and killed.
We the children gathered here at the CHILDREN’S MARCH FOR PEACE, SAFE SCHOOLS & STREETS on 30 May 2026 call on all role-players to join hands with children and work together to make our homes, schools and streets safer for children and everyone.
“Delft is where we live. We have the right to feel safe, not to worry and be scared. The bullying, fighting and killing must stop. Everybody must work together. It is our right to have PEACE, SAFE SCHOOLS & STREETS!”
Enough is enough. Our community is in a mess and children are stressing: -
• Stop the gender-based violence, the domestic violence, fighting, and child neglect and abuse at home.
• Stop the bullying, abuse and violence by learners and their disruptive behaviour in our schools. Protect our schools and keep it clean. And get all children back into school.
• Stop allowing parents, adults and shebeens give and sell alcohol and drugs to children.
• Stop throwing around your mess at home and on the streets and open spaces. The dirt, blocked drains and sewage water are everywhere and is bad for our health.
• Stop the crime, violence, kidnapping and abduction of children
• Stop children having s*x and get pregnant.
• Stop s*xual abuse and exploitation of children
• Stop the hate for foreigners and stop blaming them for all our troubles.
Everyone must unite and fight: -
• Learners and educators must work together to keep our schools safe and clean.
• Parents, community members and groups must work together and protect our schools, protect children and our community.
• Government organisations, services and programmes must support and involve children and young people in activities to keep them away from gangs, crime and violence.
• We are pleading for help! We plea for justice!
This is a statement by learner representatives from the participating schools presented at the end of the Delft CHILDREN'S MARCH FOR PEACE, SAFE SCHOOLS & STREETS help on 30 May 2026.
