It is very difficult to explain the sheer number of children abused and the type of abuse they suffer.  The information below is our attempt to convey to you what we are dealing with and why we do what we do.

The table below reflects the number of crimes against children as published in the 2005/2006 South African Police Services (SAPS) Annual Report¹.

The above table shows reported cases, but these figures only give us part of the picture as research suggests that the majority of sexual offences are not reported to the police. For instance, it is estimated that only 1 in 9 incidents of rape are actually reported². Applying this ratio to the 23,453 cases of child rape in 2005/6 the true figure is more likely to be over 200,000. However, the Children’s Institute of the University of Cape Town estimated that the number of rapes and sexual offences is likely to be even higher; they estimate that 400,000 – 500,000 children are sexually abused each year³.

Systematic studies of the patterns of crimes against children are not readily available. The Charts below⁴ give a profile of the types of crimes committed against children based on reported cases from a study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council and the South African Police Service. Chart 1 shows that cases are predominated by crimes of a sexual nature, and Chart 2 shows that the majority of these cases involve rape and indecent assault.

In more than half of the cases (57.8 per cent), victims do not suffer a physical injury⁵.  But in cases that do involve violence, children are often subjected to despicable brutality that statistics simply do not convey.

Among the examples:  The 7-year-old girl who was raped, stabbed and thrown on a fire, and who has since undergone three operations and countless skin grafts to recover⁶.  The 3-year- old girl who was sexually assaulted by more than one abuser, and who then faced the possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS as a result⁷.  The 5-year-old boy whose father stood on his back while beating him so severely with an electrical cord that his kidneys were damaged and he was unable to speak⁸.

These children, already victims of appalling crimes, then face what can only be described as “secondary victimisation” should they enter the Child Protection System. The report “Research Patterns of Crimes against Children”⁹ stated the following: “In most parts of the country, all components of the child protection system, including the social welfare system, police child protection units, the court system, residential care and hospitals are under-resourced and overstretched. Child protection workers are daily walking into the ‘brick-wall’ of no vacancies in places of safety, lack of specialized care, under-resourced child protection units, overloaded prosecutors, lack of funds to implement programmes to prevent child abuse and neglect. The situation proves to be very demoralizing and for all parties involved in the child protection system, especially as countless extra hours are being unselfishly spent in a genuine effort to help a child in need. Then because of a failure in the system, nothing can be done and the perpetrator even goes free while the child is punished by being removed from his or her home.”

Despite the desperate situation faced by so many children, studies and data in South Africa have not yet fully illuminated the causes of this child abuse. We believe it’s due to a combination of factors including: poverty and unemployment, a lack of education, a feeling of disempowerment and a disorganized family structure. Still worse, there seems to be a self-perpetuating societal acceptance of violence in South Africa. Furthermore, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has orphaned many children, making them vulnerable to abuse. The situation is also exacerbated by the mistaken belief that if you sleep with a virgin you will be cured of AIDS.

The most vulnerable children in the South Africa are being failed by the people who should be able to help them. If these children are not adequately protected, counselled and supported, they will grow up to be maladjusted adults who, in turn, abuse themselves and others. In light of this urgent situation, it is crucial for us to do all we can to alleviate their suffering and help prevent their continued abuse.

Further reading:

1. United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children http://violencestudy.org/IMG/pdf/English-2-2.pdf

2. Statistics for the USA http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/index.htm#can

3. Research on Human and Social Development in South Africa http://hsrc.ac.za

4. Access to South African Government Information and Services http://capegateway.gov.za/eng/directories/services/11457/9669

5. R.A.P.C.A.N: Resources aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect www.rapcan.org.za

1. http://www.saps.gov.za/saps_profile/strategic_framework/annual_report/index.htm

2. Jewkes R, Penn-Kekana L, Levin L, Ratsaka M & Schreiber M (1999). Violence Against women in three South African Provinces. Medical Research Council.

3. Jacobs M, Shung-King M & Smith C, South African Child Gauge, Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 2005.

4. Research: Patterns of Crimes Against Children by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and South African Police Service (Child Protection Unit), conducted between 1 July 1994 and 30 June 1995. 5: Research: Patterns of Crimes Against Children by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and South African Police Service (Child Protection Unit)

6: Kleinvlei FCS Unit, Nov 2007

7: Goodwood CP Unit, Dec 2001

8: Goodwood CP Unit, Dec 2001

9: Research: Patterns of Crimes Against Children by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and South African Police Service (Child Protection Unit)