Know the signs of sexual abuse
SINCE it is clear that the criminal justice system fails victims of sexual offences, AfriForum advises schools, teachers, parents and pupils to be proactive against sexual bullying behaviour. This follows reporting, as well as the Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s reaction in Parliament recently to the increase in sexual offences in South African schools.
In the past three years, more than 452 cases of sexual misconduct have been reported to the South African Council for Educators. The 2022 crime statistics show, among other things, that 294 of the reported rapes took place on the premises of educational institutions.
These figures are alarming, and it is important that these cases are thoroughly investigated. In South Africa, sexual crimes and bullying are increasing daily. Schools must be a safe haven for children, as well as for teachers, where they can focus on academics. Safe schools also ensure safe communities, not only now but in the future.
Advocate Phyllis Vorster of AfriForum’s Private Prosecutions Unit said these statistics proved that the president, minister of justice, SAPS, National Prosecuting Authority and the courts’ promise to prioritise cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual offences involving minor victims, were only paying lip service to the public.
Vorster is of the opinion that the Independent Complaints Directorate should compile a dossier in which it answers the following questions: What has it done to ensure proper treatment and service at family courts?
What has it done to ensure competent prosecutions of GBV matters?
What has it done about the current pandemic of GBV and sexual offences in which minors are the victims?
Vorster said the application of the law in schools was disciplinary action and that we must ensure that the law becomes predictable. She said if the law was predictable and there was a predictable outcome when violations took place, it would be a good deterrent. Voster also said the law must then also be applicable to both the perpetrator and the victim to prevent false accusations.
Children will not necessarily say when they are a victim of sexual violence, but parents and teachers may notice signs and must therefore be aware of what the signs may be so immediate action can be taken to stop or prevent incidents of this nature.
These include physical indications such as unexplained bruises, or emotional signs such as changes in behaviour. Some children may only show subtle signs, and some children may not even give any indications, but parents must work on the communication and trusting relationships between them and their children so the children feel comfortable to mention any events of this nature to them.
Signs of child sexual abuse may include the following:
Crying for no apparent reason. Looking scared or showing signs of anxiety or depression. Asking questions such as “should people keep secrets?” Isolating themselves from friends and other people.
Showing harmful sexual behaviour.
Changes in sleeping patterns (sleeping a lot more or a lot less). Changes in eating patterns (drastically losing weight or drastically gaining weight). Academic performance suffering. It is important for schools, teachers, parents and pupils to be proactive and to stop bullying in any form. For more information about AfriForum’s antibully campaign, visit www.teenboelie. co.za.