Geduld has a lot of cases of intra-family rape

The Springs suburb of Geduld has some of the highest occurrences of intra-family rape, as well as close friends and acquaintances raping and grooming young children for sexual purposes.

Michelle Bellion of the Sexual Assault Clinic in Benoni says they consulted with a total of 31 victims from Geduld over the past two years.

The only other area that had over 20 victims over two years, was Daveyton.

These statistics are part of the 259 children the clinic consulted with in Ekurhuleni during the past two years, which equates to 10.79 children per month.

Bellion says these figures are appalling, as rape, grooming or molestation know no economic, ethnic or gender boundaries and are equally apparent within the affluent community as in impoverished areas.

She urges communities to report any knowledge of child abuse.

“Having knowledge of abuse and keeping quiet makes you equally as culpable as the perpetrator.

“The SAPS, along with the National Prosecuting Authority can, and often does, prosecute those who have not reported the crime.

“We need a healthy society built on children growing into mentally well and healthy adults so that our country and its people can be all it is meant to be.

“This means communities taking responsibility for their children’s welfare and not allowing the perpetrator to walk free,” says Bellion.

The Sexual Assault Clinic, situated in Benoni, is a medico-legal clinic where they can confirm through a physical medical examination, if a child was harmed sexually or physically.

The clinic offers free medical examinations to any child who is thought to have been physically or sexually assaulted.

The specially trained staff give children medical and emotional support and care after a traumatic incident and refer them to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals.

The clinic’s staff works closely with the SAPS Springs Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Assault Unit (FCS) and it offers free medical examinations to victims in Springs, Benoni, Brakpan and Kempton Park and the surrounding areas, as well as in Edenvale and Sebenza.

They also work hand in hand with Mad Rage Against Child Abuse, a hotline where anyone can report incidents of child abuse or neglect anonymously and be assured that their complaint will be investigated thoroughly.

They help any child who has fallen victim to sexual or physical assault, as long as the child is under 12 years old.

“Many of the children referred to the clinic are brought in by local Child Welfare Societies, CMR-branches and school social workers.”

The only restrictions when someone brings a child to the clinic for an examination are that the parent or guardian has to supply an SAPS occurrence book number (OB) or case number, or the child must have been seen by a social worker, psychologist or counsellor who believes it necessary for the child to be examined.

The child may be accompanied by a police officer if the parents or guardian are considered to be a danger to the child.

Bellion says it is necessary to make an appointment before the child goes to the clinic, as all cases are treated sensitively and confidentially on a one-on-one basis.

Appointments do not apply in an immediate rape case and during an emergency.

The clinic also offers a free telephonic advisory service if a parent or guardian is not sure how to proceed with opening a case.

Bellion says says they aim to make the situation easy for the child and to minimise the trauma as much as possible for both the child and family.

The office, situated in 6B Railway Avenue, Western Extension, Benoni, is open from 8.30am to 4pm each day unless there is an emergency.

Call 011 420 0523 for advice or to make an appointment.