The Nelson Mandela Children's Fund  is calling for urgent, coordinated national action to strengthen prevention, reporting, psychosocial support, child-friendly justice, digital safety and community-based protection systems. According to the National Child Protection Register's first to third quarter statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, 8,984 cases of child abuse and 3,258 cases of sexual abuse were recorded. The figures paint a deeply troubling picture of the realities facing children daily in homes, schools, communities, and digital spaces. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Child Safety & Protection Programme Manager, Anzio Jacobs .