As South Africa confronts persistent challenges of poverty, inequality and violence, the Department of Social Development (DSD) plays a critical role in supporting vulnerable individuals, families and communities. The National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide places prevention, early intervention and victim support at the centre of the national response, recognising that violence against women and children is rooted in family breakdown, trauma and social inequality. Without a functional and well-resourced DSD, many of the conditions that drive violence will remain unaddressed.

 

In this piece, Dr Chandré Gould and Tarisai Mchuchu-MacMillan argue that social development should be recognised as a cornerstone of South Africa's development agenda. They highlight the importance of investing in services that strengthen families, support children and caregivers, and address the social conditions that contribute to violence and poor wellbeing.

 

 

Evidence consistently shows that experiences in childhood shape outcomes later in life. Children exposed to violence, harsh parenting and adversity are at greater risk of experiencing poor health, educational and social outcomes, and of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence themselves. Supporting parents and caregivers is increasingly recognised as a critical violence prevention strategy, with the potential to strengthen families and interrupt cycles of violence across generations.

 

This recent Daily Maverick article profiles the Free to Grow initiative and its work supporting caregivers through a workplace-based parenting programme. The article illustrates what it can look like to translate evidence into practice, showing how accessible parenting support can strengthen families, improve caregiver-child relationships and help break intergenerational cycles of violence.

Observations report: Social media discourse on South African elections  

 

Elections are not only shaped by what happens at the ballot box, but also by the conversations taking place online. As misinformation, polarisation and distrust spread across digital platforms, there is growing recognition that harmful online narratives can undermine social cohesion and contribute to tensions that increase the risk of violence.

 

Tales of Turning's Elections Observation Report maps critical online threats that directly risk destabilising South Africa's election processes, such as election-rigging disinformation, xenophobic narratives, and rising calls for voters to boycott the elections. From these observations, the report provides the actionable insights necessary to address harmful narratives, promote voter education, and protect electoral integrity. 

 

As cities increasingly turn to data and technology to address complex social challenges, important questions emerge about how these tools can be used to strengthen violence prevention efforts while remaining ethical, inclusive and responsive to community needs. From improving decision-making to identifying emerging risks, data-driven approaches are creating new opportunities to support safer and more resilient cities.

 

Peace in Our Cities will host a virtual panel as part of the Data for Peace Conference, bringing together practitioners and experts to explore how cities are using data and technology to strengthen violence prevention strategies. The session will showcase innovative approaches to addressing urban violence and examine how local governments and partners can harness new technologies in ways that are participatory, responsible and grounded in the realities of the communities they serve. Participants will have an opportunity to delve deeper into matters related to the intersection of data, technology, urban violence, and city governance. 

 

Date: 17 June 2026

Time: 9:00- 17:40 GMT+2

 

Delayed early childhood development and violence against children are major global challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. Universal digital–human parenting interventions may offer a scalable solution by overcoming barriers associated with traditional in-person programs.

 

This study reports the first pragmatic randomized controlled trial evaluating a blended chatbot-based parenting intervention delivered within the Chinese preschool system.