Shocking child sex abuse stats
OVER 3 000 CASES LAST YEAR
ONE in three young South Africans are sexually abused, a new study has shown.
The “Optimus Study: Sexual Victimisation of Children in South Africa” was commissioned by the UBS Optimus Foundation and conducted by researchers from UCT and the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention.
It showed that 784 967 young people in South Africa are likely to have been victims of sexual abuse by the age of 17.
The number of victims is enough to fill the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg eight times, and of this 351 214 cases occurred last year alone.
The study drew from a population survey of 15- to 17year-old adolescents from schools (4 086 participants) and households (5 631 participants) in a series of in-depth interviews.
The findings have shown that boys and girls are equally vulnerable to sexual abuse throughout their lifetime.
The researchers found girls were more likely to experience contact sexual abuse than boys, who reported higher levels of no-contact sexual abuse.
In terms of reporting incidents, 31 percent of girls reported sexual abuse, while young males were not inclined to report it.
The study advises that good parenting can be a valuable factor in protecting a child from sexual abuse, and states that there is an association between parents knowing the whereabouts of their children and who they spend their time with, and less sexual abuse being reported.
The report recommends policy changes so that a regulated framework can be developed for reporting, referral and management of sexual offences.
A lack of such protocol means that too many children who experience sexual abuse face delays in justice.
Recommendations also include strengthening the roles of schools with regards to safety and life skills curricula that directly target sex, gender and violence.
The study argues that substance abuse programmes can play a role in preventing sexual abuse since parental substance misuse is associated with sexual abuse of children.
Christina Nomdo, executive director of Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child abuse and Neglect (Rapcan), said: “We applaud the rigorous scientific study commissioned by UBS because it provides important baseline data.
“We believe this information should be used to accelerate efforts towards prevention of violence against children.”
Child rights group Molo Songololo’s director, Patric Solomons, said: “We need to keep our children in school, increase organised and supervised recreation and activities for them, especially in poor communities, and keep an eye on our children.”
“We need to make sure that all government and businesses adopt a child-protection policy and approach, while taking the best interests of the children into consideration.”
WE ARE entering what is known as “Student Month”, which came about as a result of the Soweto Uprising in which many students were massacred in Africa’s largest township.
We salute the Class of 1976 which was inspired and mentored by the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania’s (PAC) Zephania “Uncle Zeph” Mothopeng. The Commission of Inquiry established that 17 leaders of the PAC were involved and initiated an infamous trial known as the Bethal 18 Trial (Treason Trial) which lasted for three years. Accused No 1 was Uncle Zeph.
This history is not shared because it could discredit those who have been lying about their involvement in the Soweto Uprising. It is true that Zeph Mothopeng was mandated when he was on Robben Island by his fellow comrades to implement this plan. It all started on June 16, 1976. Students, despite their different political colours, joined in a bid to liberate Azania.
The SA Student Organisation dominated the scene. They were inspired by the leadership of Steven Bantu Biko.
The Soweto Revolution does not suggest that the problems facing the country and young people vanished, but we were then compromised by the political settlement of 1994, which the PAC opposed. We have adopted a constitution which is praised by the enemy and does little to protect Africans.
We have sufficient mineral resources which can liberate an African child, but we see corrupt bureaucrats who are compromising these resources to the Queen and the entire West while African children face abject poverty. African children do not have textbooks, let alone school fees.
Our government pretends to know the challenges facing the youth, but in fact they are clueless. It should not come as a surprise that so many young people take drugs or alcohol, engage in criminal activities and display sexual intolerance. It is common knowledge that the youth make up most of the population. This means that our efforts should be directed at them.
It’s not even a secret as young people are told to create networks such as Uzo e thola kanjani, Uhlele Khonene (How are you going to get it, while you are seated in the corner). It will only be the youth who will follow in the footsteps of the 1976 class. We are proud as the PAC to see and assist movements such as #FeesMustFall, which not only speak about free education but an obligatory quality education, and not the current failed system.
We know the country is leaderless, just like during colonialism, especially after apartheid. The leadership vacuum will produce vibrant and charismatic leaders like Zeph Mothopeng, Robert Sobukwe, Steve Biko, Barney Pityana, Tsietsi Mashinini, Onkgopotse Tiro and many other icons not mentioned in the media because they were not leaders of a certain party which never fought for this country, but decided to submit our country and its resources to the West.
We shall ensure that the blood that flowed in Soweto, Sharpeville/Langa is not building Nkandla and feeding certain connected families, leaving the masses hungry and angry. Kenneth Mokgatlhe