The first nationally representative study in South Africa has found that one in three children under the age of 17 has been a victim of sexual abuse.The study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Cape Town and the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention, has found more than 750,000 young South Africans are likely to have been victims of sexual abuse by the age of 17.According to one of the study's authors, Catherine Ward, South Africa had all the conditions for the perfect storm when it came to sexual abuse of children. These included unemployment, poverty and high levels of alcohol and drug abuse."But while these figures are high, they are not significantly higher than international figures," she said.The study shed light on the sexual abuse of boys for the first time.The researchers found that girls were more likely to experience contact sexual abuse, while boys reported more no-contact sexual abuse, like being shown pornography or being flashed. The Optimus Foundation commissioned the study, which is called Sexual Victimisation of Children in South Africa.The research found although sex abuse legislation in South Africa was progressive and wide-ranging, the problem was that SA Police Service members, particularly at a station level, often did not have training to enforce it."In part we need more capacity building at station level, but at the family violence and child protection units, we have very skilled investigators," said associate professor Lillian Artz.She said South Africa's sexual offences conviction rate of between 7% and 8% was similar to that of the UK. This figure improved to a 60% to 70% conviction rate when the National Prosecuting Authority brought a sexual offence case to court.The report said more needed to be done at policy level to protect children and that teachers be trained to deal with issues relating to sex, gender and violence.Shaheda Omar, director of clinic services at the Teddy Bear Clinic, welcomed the report, but said an important part of child abuse had not been addressed and that was the problem of victims respecting their elders, regardless.In one case a serial rapist lured his victims by telling them they had to collect muti for his mother."Over and over, they would describe him as malume, uncle," Omar said...