Are children paying the price the sordid desires of sexual deviants? Their innocence snatched away in a moment of perversion.
As a close-knit society, surely child abuse and child pornography in Newcastle can’t be as bad as larger cities. Or can it?
Newcastle Crisis Centre director, Mary Dobbie, explains that as shocking as it is, there are paedophiles lurking within our society. Hiding behind facades of caring community members. “There is an increase in child pornography and child abuse. At the Crisis Centre alone, we have had six cases this month,” she explains.
With girls often being the prime target of sex offenders, Dobbie says there has been a notable increase in sexual offences against boys under the age of 15 years. Both in terms of child molestation, rape and pornography.
Nokulunga Magubane, the satellite station manager and social worker for LifeLine Pretoria’s Newcastle office, emphasises just how bad child abuse actually is in the Amajuba District. “We have between 30 to 35 cases a month. But, these figures are better than previous years, where there were between 45 to 50 cases a month.”
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Magubane explains while child abuse and child rape take place in Newcastle, LifeLine has identidied hot spots where sexual assault and abuse is most prevalent areas. These areas are oSizweni, Blaauwbosch, Madadeni, as well as small farming communities outside of Dannhauser.
While she can’t comment on child pornography, Mugabane says paedophiles often groom their intended victims, forging a close bond to make raping or molesting them easier.
As with Newcastle Crisis Centre, Magubane says the biggest challenge faced is that victims don’t always report the attack. “There are children who report it within 72 hours, but there are those who don’t. Those who don’t unfortunately have a chance of contracting HIV.”
LifeLine also holds initiatives to create awareness about sex related crimes. “We create awareness at schools, provide counselling to both the children and their caregivers.”
But why is counselling held with the family?
Magubane says this is to help them deal with what has happened to their child and look at ways forward in helping their child in the long run.
To educate families on sexual offences, LifeLine holds programmes within the community. However, Magubane says the community doesn’t always attend these initiatives. Especially those who come from poverty-stricken areas. “They won’t always come if there is no food. Unless there is something to fill their bellies, they won’t always attend.”
Furthermore, she states children who fall victim to sexual molestation or rape don’t always report the incidents. “This is because of social ills, where there is no employment and the perpetrator is the breadwinner. The child often feels that if they report the culprit, they are removing the family’s source of food and income.”
In the hope of fighting child abuse, Newcastle Crisis Centre also holds awareness programmes at schools. Focusing on educating children on their rights, the centre also helps children get the necessary assistance with of stakeholders in the police, welfare organisations, medical profession and Department of Social Development. But, yet again, not all incidents are reported.
Professional Nurse, Yolande Groenewald of Newcastle Hospital Crisis Centre, agrees that there are a lot of rape cases taking place in Newcastle. “Especially in areas such as Madadeni, oSizweni, Charlestown, Ingogo and Normandien.”
Situated at the Newcastle Hospital, Nurse Groenewald and her colleagues deal with rape and molestation on a regular basis.
“We do examinations, HIV testing, and start the necessary treatment for STDS if the child comes to us within 72 hours. There also have a social worker on site and work closely with psychologists.”
In this past month alone, the Newcastle Hospital Crisis Centre has seen 17 victims. The bulk of them are girls aged between 5 to 12 years old. Some victims even younger than four, while others are aged between 13 and 15 years.
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Offering ongoing support and counselling for children and caregivers, Nurse Groenewald emphasises the importance of keeping a close eye on one’s child. “Don’t allow them to wander off, know who they are going out with and teach them not to take anything from strangers.”
However, she says that not all perpetrators are unknown perverts. “The perpetrators are usually known to the victim. Only a small percentage of rape and abuse comes from a stranger.”
Ntombifuthi Nxumalo, a social worker at the Newcastle Hospital Crisis Centre, explains it is of the utmost importance to develop a channel of communication with one’s child. “As a guardian or parent, you need to know what your role and needs are, as your child relies on you. Communication and being actively involved in your child’s life is important. There are cases, where parents and guardians only find out later on what happened to the child.”
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Both Groenewald and Nxumalo say it is paramount to not brush off any accusations. “If your child says someone has touched them, don’t take it lightly. You need to follow up and investigate it,” Groenewald says.
Nxumalo also encourages teachers to take a more active stance. “If you notice a child is suddenly not performing well, you must check why.”
With the alarming rate of children being sexually abused and assaulted, do we have the right to know who the offenders are? While South Africa has the National Registrar for Sex Offenders (NRSO), it is not available to the general public.
While places of employment such as schools and welfare organisations are allowed to find out who is in the NRSO, the list can apparently not be published. This is a frightening thought, as this allows sex offenders to move into our suburbs without us knowing.
Quick facts on the NRSO:
Certain offenders can have their names removed from the register after a certain time has lapsed. The length of the period depends on the original sentence imposed. The categories are as follows:
Six to 18 months – This is where the offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, periodical imprisonment, correctional supervision or to imprisonment according to the law, without the option of a fine for at least six months but not more than 18 months. Regardless if the sentence is suspended or not, the offender may apply to be removed from the Register after 10 years has lapsed after that person has been released from prison or the period of suspension has lapsed.
Under six months – If the offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, periodical imprisonment, correctional supervision or to imprisonment without the option of a fine for a period of six months or less, whether the sentence is suspended or not, the offender may apply to be removed from the Register after seven years has lapsed following the person’s release from prison or the period of suspension has lapsed.
However, if punishment exceeds 18 months, whether the sentence is suspended or not, may not be removed from the Register.
For those seeking to report sexual abuse and rape, they can contact the following numbers:
Child Welfare – 034 312 6228
Newcastle Crisis Centre – 034 315 3389
LifeLine – 033 342 4447
Police – 10111
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