Crimes against kids in Lim on the increase

AS THE curtain comes down on the annual commemoration of 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children, there is still a proliferation of gender-based violence in several parts of Limpopo.

According to Vanespiri Pillay of Childline SA, the organisation received 350 000 calls a year from abused children, with the majority of complaints involving sexual abuse.

Other complaints involved neglect, exploitation and child trafficking.

“The reason for the increase was exposure to sexual activity and social media as well as poverty, with the victim and offender often staying in the same room, as well as a lack of supervision and awareness,” Pillay said.

“Parents should keep constant supervision over their children by knowing their whereabouts. Look at childcare facilities very carefully and ensure they are safe for your children.”

Pillay said the absence of adult supervision was worrying as children were being kidnapped, sexually molested, maimed and killed at an alarming rate.

“Parental negligence forces children to grow up on their own and if you dare raise this concern to their parents, most of them will defensively tell you to ‘mind your own business’.

“Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is also a significantly under-reported crime that is difficult to prove and prosecute. Most perpetrators of child molestation, incest and child rape are never identified and caught,” Pillay said.

Provincial police spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said their operations were ongoing and the police were doing their level best to curb the abuse of women and children. “Our plea is that parents should know the whereabouts of their children at all times. Women should stop frequenting drinking places, walking around late at night and taking lifts from unknown motorists.”

Any cases of child abuse can be reported to Childline at 08000 55555.