Reduced supervision of children during the festive season, combined with an alarming rise in gender-based violence and femicide, is placing the most vulnerable at risk, LifeLine and Rape Crisis Pietermaritzburg has warned.

According to The Witness, director Sinikiwe Biyela said the organisation has recorded a troubling increase in men coming forward, as well as young boys falling victim to abuse.

Children and men among growing number of victims

“We recently had a case of six boys, around nine years old, who were raped by an 18-year-old female and infected with sexually transmitted infections,” she said.

Biyela highlighted that female perpetrators are also increasingly involved in rape, child neglect and physical abuse of partners.

“Elderly parents are reporting emotional, physical and financial abuse by their own children who are on drugs.

“Domestic violence and intimate partner violence spike during the festive season due to increased alcohol consumption and partners spending more time at home.

“Children are increasingly falling victim to sexual abuse when parents are at work, intoxicated, or send them away during the holidays, leaving them without close supervision,” she added.

Festive season linked to underreporting

Biyela said Msunduzi Municipality continues to record the highest number of such cases in the region.

“Despite a rise in incidents over December and early January, reporting declines during the festive season for several reasons: Victims cannot leave their homes, some support organisations close over the festive season, alcohol use increases and access points such as schools are unavailable.

“Many intimate partner violence cases are often withdrawn shortly after being reported,” Biyela said.

She added that reports typically surge again in January when schools reopen, often reflecting incidents that occurred during the holidays.

Call for closer parental supervision

“Intimate partner violence also remains significantly unreported, and gets reported after the festive season. We want to urge parents and caregivers to supervise children closely, maintain open communication, so that such incidents are reported early.

“Parents should stop delegating their responsibilities of looking after children to other people like the extended family during the festive season,” said Biyela.

Protecting children, she said, is the primary responsibility of parents.

LifeLine and Rape Crisis Pietermaritzburg remains operational throughout the festive season, excluding public holidays.

“Survivors must be supported even if it moves us outside our comfort zone,” Biyela said.

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