PROJECT: MEASURES TO STOP GBV, RAPE, AND UNWANTED PREGNANCIES AMONG SOUTH AFRICA’S CHILDREN (PART 2)
- Isabel Spies
- 32 minutes ago
- 5 min read
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Gender-based violence (GBV), rape, and all forms of sexual exploitation
remain critical drivers of unwanted pregnancies among minors in South Africa.
These acts are not isolated incidents — they are violent crimes that destroy the lives of young girls, disrupt their education, compromise their physical and psychological health, and perpetuate cycles of poverty and trauma.
Preventing these crimes and holding perpetrators accountable requires an integrated national strategy involving policing, justice, education, social development, and community action.
Read our earlier project to understand the scope of the problem:
1. STRONG AND DECISIVE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST PERPETRATORS
CRIMINAL CHARGES AND PENALTIES:
Under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, all sexual contact with a minor under the age of 16 — whether consensual or coerced — is a criminal offence. In cases of GBV and rape that result in pregnancy, penalties include:
Mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years to life imprisonment.
Aggravated sentencing when the perpetrator is a caregiver, teacher, family member, or person in authority.
No consent defence, as minors cannot legally consent to sexual activity with adults.
Pregnancies resulting from rape strengthen the case against perpetrators, and medical evidence provides crucial forensic support.
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY:
Convicted offenders must be placed on the National Register for Sex Offenders, which permanently prevents them from working with or gaining access to children.
2. IMPROVED POLICING AND JUSTICE RESPONSE
SPECIALISED INVESTIGATIONS:
GBV and rape cases involving minors, especially those resulting in pregnancy, require immediate referral to SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Units, which specialise in:
Child-sensitive interviewing.
Forensic evidence collection.
Grooming and exploitation investigations.
Digital crime associated with sexual abuse.
SEXUAL OFFENCES COURTS:
Expanding these specialised courts ensures:
Faster case turnaround.
Survivor-friendly environments.
Improved conviction rates.
Specialised magistrates and prosecutors who understand child trauma and statutory rape laws.
MANDATORY REPORTING:
Any professional working with children — teachers, healthcare workers, social workers — is legally obligated to report suspected abuse, rape, or exploitation.
Failure to report is a punishable offence.
3. PREVENTIVE SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY MEASURES
SCHOOL-BASED PROTECTION:
Schools must be equipped to identify and report:
Signs of sexual abuse or grooming.
Behavioural changes linked to trauma.
Unexplained pregnancies in minors.
Comprehensive sexuality education must emphasise:
Consent.
Boundaries.
Recognising predatory behaviour.
How and where to report abuse safely.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS:
Many children do not seek help because of:
Fear of retaliation.
Dependence on the abuser for food or shelter.
Social stigma.
Cultural silence around sexual violence.
Distrust of police or social services.
Threats from perpetrators.
Social workers must intervene early when risk factors emerge.
4. ADDRESSING DIGITAL EXPLOITATION
Online grooming and coercion contribute significantly to sexual violence against minors. Measures include:
Monitoring of minors’ digital exposure
Active policing of online predators
Prosecution of those engaging in digital exploitation, sextortion, or the distribution of explicit images of minors
5. TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT FOR CHILD SURVIVORS
MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION:
A survivor-centred response must include:
Emergency contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention.
STI treatment.
DNA evidence collection.
Ongoing trauma counselling.
Where pregnancy has already occurred, the child must receive comprehensive medical care, psychosocial support, and protection from the perpetrator.
SAFE ACCOMMODATION:
Shelters and safe-houses are crucial where minors cannot remain in their homes due to ongoing danger or where the abuser is a family member.
6. TARGETED ACTION AGAINST PREDATORS IN POSITIONS OF POWER
Perpetrators often include:
Fathers.
Teachers.
Coaches.
Religious leaders.
Taxi drivers.
“Blessers”.
Family members.
Neighbours.
Measures must include:
Immediate suspension and reporting to authorities.
Professional deregistration where applicable.
Employment bans in all child-related sectors.
Asset forfeiture where children are exploited for financial or material gain.
7. NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT
INSTITUTIONAL AUDITS:
Regular audits of schools, clinics, crèches, shelters, and child-care centres are essential to ensure:
No individuals with prior convictions are employed
Effective supervision
Compliance with mandatory screening laws
INTEGRATED DATABASES:
Improved data-sharing between SAPS, Social Development, and the Department of Basic Education helps identify patterns, known offenders, and high-risk areas.
GBV and rape resulting in unwanted pregnancies among South Africa’s children represent
a profound violation of human rights and a national emergency.
Children must be protected by a system that:
Prevents abuse,
Identifies risk early,
Encourages reporting,
Prosecutes offenders swiftly and harshly, and
Provides compassionate care to survivors.
Only a coordinated, zero-tolerance approach — enforced by police, courts, schools, communities, and families —
can break the devastating cycle of violence, trauma, and exploitation affecting South Africa’s minors.
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