The recent rape of a seven-year-old girl at a school in the Eastern Cape province has reignited public outrage, sparking nationwide protests and revealing systemic failures in protecting children from sexual violence.
In an interview with Channel Africa, Dr Nadia Bernon, Chairperson of the Rapid Response Team on Gender-Based Violence, called for urgent government accountability. “Our laws are protecting sexual predators, even within schools and daycare centres, places where children should feel safest,” she said.
Bernon criticised the SA government for prioritising summits and conferences over concrete action.
“Convictions are delayed, victims are traumatised by the reporting process, and there’s a complete lack of urgency in arresting perpetrators,” she added. She also highlighted how the justice system continues to fail survivors, with civil society organisations stepping in as first responders to provide medical and psychological support.
A troubling case in Limpopo involving a teacher accused of repeatedly raping a 13-year-old pupil has further exposed flaws in how cases are handled. “Why wait for overwhelming evidence when a child has already reported the abuse?” asked Bernon. “Why is the perpetrator allowed to walk free, re-enter the classroom, and look the victim in the eye?”
She also flagged severe training gaps within the police force and other service points, citing communication barriers, particularly for disabled victims. “There are no trained gender-based violence officers, no psychosocial support, and no accessible services at police stations or hospitals,” she said.
Bernon called for the urgent implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence, which focuses on prevention, particularly in schools. She also stressed the importance of community accountability and called for immediate arrests to prevent perpetrators from evading justice.
“Until the government closes these gaps and prioritises victims, the crisis will continue to escalate,” she warned.
--ChannelAfrica--
