Portfolio Committee on Social Development chairperson Bridget Masango has called on all South Africans to play their part in protecting children from sexual abuse and violence.

According to the Midrand Reporter the National Child Protection Week, running from May 29 to this Friday (June 5) under the theme Working Together to End Violence Against Children, comes as Parliament warns that the country can no longer ignore abuse perpetrated by people known to and trusted by children.

In the 2022/2023 financial year, more than 43 000 rape cases were recorded, with about 10 590 involving children under the age of 18.

Research indicates that fewer than 4% of rape survivors report their abuse to police, while only 8.6% of cases that reach court result in a guilty verdict.

In 2020 alone, nearly 700 babies were born to girls aged nine and 10.

Adults must report sexual abuse

South African law already imposes a legal duty on adults to report child sexual abuse.

Section 54 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act makes it a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment, for anyone who knows about a sexual offence against a child and fails to report it.

Section 110 of the Children’s Act also requires teachers, nurses, doctors, religious leaders and social workers to report any reasonable suspicion of abuse. Despite this, many cases still go unreported.

A United Nations Children’s Fund supported study found that children are increasingly targeted through social media platforms such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

Many are manipulated, blackmailed or pressured into sharing sexual images. More than half (55%) of children who received unwanted sexual requests online told no one about their experience, while only 1% reported it to police or social workers.

Several interventions

The committee has proposed several interventions, including daily public updates on child sexual abuse statistics, a confidential online reporting system across government departments, and stronger accountability for professionals who fail to report abuse.

Additionally, it has called for increased support for boy children and male victims, partnerships with traditional leaders to challenge harmful cultural practices, and collaboration with mining companies and other industries to fund social workers in high-risk communities.

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.