SA Child Protection Week: Country Still Marred by Rising Cases of Abuse Against Minors
- Masimanyane Staff Writer
- May 21
- 3 min read
Updated: May 26
As South Africa observes Child Protection Week from 29 May to 5 June, a sobering set of statistics reveals why urgent and sustained action is needed to safeguard the country’s youngest citizens. According to the Human Sciences Research Council, more than one in three South African women (33%) have experienced physical violence in their lifetime, while nearly 10% have endured sexual violence. Disturbingly, a report by the Democratic Alliance reveals that over 106,000 cases of child rape were reported in the past six years — 90.1% of the victims were girls.
Despite progressive legislation, the South African Police Service continues to report unacceptably high numbers of sexual offences against children. In 2022/2023, more than 38,800 sexual offences were recorded involving victims under the age of 18 — an alarming indicator of a society struggling to protect its children.
Tragedies like the case of “Cwecwe”, a seven-year-old girl allegedly raped at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, in October 2024, have brought national attention to the issue. The incident sparked the #JusticeForCwecwe campaign, amassing over 1 million signatures and galvanising calls for systemic reform. In response, the Eastern Cape Department of Education took the unprecedented step of deregistering the school, citing its failure to ensure a safe learning environment or cooperate with authorities.
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Six-year-old Joshlin Smith vanished from her home in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, on 19 February 2024. Initially perceived as a tragic disappearance, the investigation took a shocking turn when Joshlin's mother, Kelly, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, were arrested and charged with kidnapping and human trafficking.
During the trial, testimonies revealed that the trio had sold Joshlin for approximately R20,000 to a traditional healer, or sangoma, allegedly for the child's distinctive green eyes and pale skin. Despite extensive search efforts, Joshlin remains missing, and the court has not confirmed the exact circumstances of her disappearance.
On 2 May 2025, the Western Cape High Court found all three accused guilty of kidnapping and human trafficking. The case has been described as a landmark in South Africa's fight against human trafficking, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protective measures for children.
The prevalence of child trafficking and exploitation has also come under the spotlight. In 2023, a 41-year-old Eastern Cape man was arrested in connection with five cases of human trafficking and rape, spanning multiple provinces.
In another harrowing incident, the North West Department of Social Development discovered nearly 100 undocumented children, some as young as 10-years-old, from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Lesotho, working in hazardous conditions among illegal miners in Stilfontein. Political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters described the incident as a gross violation of children's rights, demanding accountability and coordinated anti-trafficking efforts.
These statistics and case studies are not just numbers — they are stories of lost innocence and systemic failure. Child Protection Week is not merely symbolic; it must be a catalyst for lasting change. Government, civil society, schools, and communities must work together to strengthen prevention, protection, and prosecution efforts. Every child in South Africa deserves to grow up in a safe, nurturing, and just society — this is not optional; it is a constitutional and moral imperative.
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