Low conviction rate in child rapes – police figures

Children were victims of more than 40% of all rape cases recorded in the past three financial years – and only 21% of those cases resulted in successful convictions. According to a TimesLIVE report, the DA asked the Police Minister in August last year to disclose the number of child murders and child rapes that took place in the 2014/2015‚ 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 financial years. The parliamentary reply showed there were 2 689 child murders during this period and only 948 successful convictions. The reply also showed there were 50 926 child rape cases during that period and only 10 653 convictions. The DA also asked what weapons were used for the children’s murders. The police replied that a variety of weapons were used‚ with knives and guns featuring prominently in the commission of the murders.

Meanwhile, Parliament was told last week that one in every five children in the country has been violated, with 19% of children in the country sexually abused. Parliament’s portfolio Committee on Basic Education was briefed by NGO Save the Children SA on the effects of violence against children, ways to prevent it and proposals to increase the political will to stop the violence. A Cape Argus report notes that Save the Children CE Gugu Ndebele said incidences of abuse against children in the country were rocketing, with little effort from the national government to stop it. ‘One in five children have experienced sexual abuse, compared to the global average of 12.7%. One in three had experienced physical abuse, notably higher than the global average of 22.6%. One in six have experienced emotional abuse, and one in six have witnessed violence,’ said Ndebele. A study by Save The Children showed that violence against children directly cost the SA economy R238bn in 2015. Ndebele lambasted Parliament over its lack of effort to hold departments, especially the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Social Development, accountable, and not ensuring that they stuck to their commitments to improve conditions for children in the country. ‘We need to join hands with Parliament to ensure we tackle violence against children,’ she said.