South Africa’s child rape crisis has reached alarming levels, with shocking new statistics revealed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), exposing a devastating systemic failure to protect the country’s most vulnerable, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to a recent statement, the party says that over 106 000 rape cases and 22 000 sexual assault cases involving children have been reported over the last six financial years.
In response, the DA plans to write to the Portfolio Committees on Police, Social Development, and Justice to convene an emergency joint meeting.
This meeting will urgently address the need for coordinated interventions to protect South Africa’s children from rape, sexual assault and other violent crimes, which accounted for 38.3% of all crimes against children in 2022/2023.
The DA’s call to action follows alarming statistics from a parliamentary question revealing that between 2018/2019 and 2023/2024, 106 001 child rape cases were reported – averaging about 1472 cases per month or roughly 48 cases per day.
With 22 722 sexual assault cases reported during the same period, there was an average of 316 child sexual assault cases per month, or about 10 per day.
These alarming statistics likely underestimate the crisis, as many rapes go unreported.
Additionally, attempted murder and GBH (grievous bodily harm) assaults on children have surged, with 91 children raped at school from April to June 2024.
The party adds that the government needs to identify a child safety strategy, build partnerships with NGOs and develop an inter-sectoral plan to promote the safety of South Africa’s children.
In the Eastern Cape during the 2022/2023 financial year, 45.9% of reported crimes against children were rapes, while nationwide, rape made up 38.3% of such crimes.
Disturbingly, 90.1% of child rape victims are girls.
Child rape and sexual violence remain pervasive across the country, with provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and Gauteng significantly contributing to these alarming trends, which show no signs of decreasing.
In 2022/2023, while 18 108 rape cases involving children were reported to the SAPS, only 10 435 arrests were made, with just 471 cases enrolled for trial by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
This stark gap highlights a systemic failure in delivering justice for vulnerable victims.
Over four years, only 1710 child rape cases and 768 sexual assault cases have reached trial, prompting the DA to call for urgent systemic reform.
The DA insists on urgent action to protect children, emphasising the need for collaboration between the Portfolio Committees of Police, Social Development, and Justice.
The party says it will continue advocating for stricter protective measures, greater accountability, and justice for victims of these horrific crimes, vowing not to rest until meaningful change is achieved.
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