Children being raped by their own parents has become a growing pattern in South Africa, but there might be many more unreported cases because many children suffer in silence, says a psychologist.
Teddy Bear Clinic for abused children director and psychologist Dr Shaheda Omar told TimesLIVE that some children who were raped by their parents were reluctant to report them. This was because some minors feared the arrest of their parents and abandonment.
The heartbreaking reality of child rape has once again gained the spotlight after the recent arrest of a Limpopo policewoman accused of raping her 10-year-old son. She was arrested after a video of the alleged incident circulated on social media.
“It is shocking that a law enforcement officer could inflict harm on a child who is vulnerable, defenceless and powerless,” Omar said.
With years of experience in dealing with child rape, Omar said fathers were more often reported for molesting minors than mothers. Crime statistics show 62% of 10,000 rapes happened at the homes of victims.
“While there might not be frequent reporting of mothers raping their own children, one cannot say it is not happening because there are probably cases that have not been reported.”
She said children who report their parents often suffer from regret.
“There are also feelings of ambivalence. You will find that a child did not like what the mother was doing but continued to like the mother.
“When the child is taken away from the mother, some grow up with feelings of abandonment, isolation and loneliness. They also feel guilty that the mother was incarcerated because of them,” she said.
Children raped by own parents ‘often feel guilty and don’t report abusers’
Commission for Gender Equality appeals to the public to stop sharing a video of the alleged rape of a minor, saying it continues the abuse
Image: 123RF/PRZEMYSLAW KOCH
Children being raped by their own parents has become a growing pattern in South Africa, but there might be many more unreported cases because many children suffer in silence, says a psychologist.
Teddy Bear Clinic for abused children director and psychologist Dr Shaheda Omar told TimesLIVE that some children who were raped by their parents were reluctant to report them. This was because some minors feared the arrest of their parents and abandonment.
The heartbreaking reality of child rape has once again gained the spotlight after the recent arrest of a Limpopo policewoman accused of raping her 10-year-old son. She was arrested after a video of the alleged incident circulated on social media.
“It is shocking that a law enforcement officer could inflict harm on a child who is vulnerable, defenceless and powerless,” Omar said.
With years of experience in dealing with child rape, Omar said fathers were more often reported for molesting minors than mothers. Crime statistics show 62% of 10,000 rapes happened at the homes of victims.
“While there might not be frequent reporting of mothers raping their own children, one cannot say it is not happening because there are probably cases that have not been reported.”
She said children who report their parents often suffer from regret.
“There are also feelings of ambivalence. You will find that a child did not like what the mother was doing but continued to like the mother.
“When the child is taken away from the mother, some grow up with feelings of abandonment, isolation and loneliness. They also feel guilty that the mother was incarcerated because of them,” she said.
Ipid to oppose bail application of policewoman accused of raping son
Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe said the child in the case investigated was in a place of safety and receiving psychological support. He was removed from the care of his mother pending investigations.
“The actions of the woman are deplorable and deserve harsh condemnation,” Hadebe said. “The identity of the woman cannot be divulged to protect the child.”
Distributing of video worsening child abuse
Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) spokesperson Javu Baloyi appealed to the public to stop sharing the video, saying it continues the abuse of the child.
“The constitution stipulates that every child has the right to be protected from neglect, abuse or degradation,” Baloyi said.
Image: File
Behaviour to look out for when a child is abused:
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