22 486 children raped in '04
Cape Town - The DA hung up thousands of pairs of children's
underwear in the Cape Town suburb of Nooitgedacht on Monday to draw
attention to the rape of 22 486 children in South Africa last
year.
"More than 55 000 cases of rape were reported - and 40% of these
cases involved children," DA leader Tony Leon said at the event,
held to mark his party's involvement in the national 16 Days of
Activism Against Women and Child Abuse campaign.
Extracts from his speech were sent to Sapa.
The 22 486 pairs of underwear were hung up "to represent the 22 486
rapes against girl babies, toddlers and children which were
reported in 2004/05".
Leon said 60% of all contact crimes in South Africa were committed
against women, and on average one woman or child was raped every 10
minutes.
There were several things that could be done to make an immediate
difference in halting such abuse, including allocating more
resources for the country's prevention, protection and prosecution
units.
"We must immediately provide Child Protection Units, Social
Development departments and Sexual Offences Courts with the staff
and resources they need in order to do their jobs properly.
"The DA's investigations have revealed that the average case load
of detectives at Child Protection Units is 62 rather than the
standard 18 cases."
Leon said it was also vital to enact and enforce necessary
legislation.
"The Sexual Offences Bill must be fast-tracked through Parliament
as soon as possible.
"The lack of commitment shown by the justice minister to the
tabling of this bill reveals the ANC government's so-called
commitment to the safety of women and children to be nothing but a
transparent facade.
"Until the bill is enacted, and enforced, the right of abused women
and children to justice will be compromised," said Leon.
The items of underwear - donated by various clothing manufacturers
- were taken away by members of the local community after the
event.
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