- Note - The Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nquakula
was known for his service to the South African Communist Party. He replaced
Steve Tshwete who died suddenly in hospital. I have always been suspicious
of that particular incident and wondered if there was some move afoot to
stick that communist in that position. Anyway... that we have a known communist,
who was lauded for his work for the South African Communist Party, in charge
of our "safety and securty" sends chills down my spine. -- Jan
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- CAPE TOWN - Rapists
are choosing their victims younger and younger.
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- This was revealed by a shocking report which showed that
1,231 children under the age of five were raped in South Africa over a
13 month period.
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- Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula, in answer
to a question posed by NNP MP Dirk Bakker, said that these were cases reported
to police between February 2002 and January 2003.
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- Joan van Niekerk, national director of Childline, who
was shocked at the statistics, said that official figures on rape - for
all age groups - were just the tip of the iceberg.
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- In answer to another question, Nqakula confirmed that
an average of 4 500 DNA specimens relating to rape incidents were tested
in the forensic laboratories in Pretoria and Cape Town every month.
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- The Pretoria laboratory, which deals with the bulk of
testing, receives about 3 250 specimens a month. Of these, a third relates
to suspected child rapes, said Nqakula.
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- Van Niekerk on Monday expressed concern at the fact that
those guilty of child rape are getting younger, and because of that, their
victims were also getting younger.
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- She said that in Pietermaritzburg alone, 63% of all children
referred to Childline were below the age of seven.
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- In her opinion, the myth that sex with a virgin cured
HIV/Aids was largely to blame for this. Other contributing factors included
pornography access at too young an age and crowded home environments, she
said.
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- But despite efforts to curb child rape it rages on. In
the latest incident, a six-year-old from Nyanga was allegedly raped by
her 25-year-old neighbour on Sunday.
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- In October 2001 the rape of nine-month-old Baby Tshepang
from Upington sent shock waves through the country. Exactly two years later
another nine-month-old baby, known only as Baby M from Kuilsriver, was
also raped.
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- Basic life skills and responsible sexual behaviour training
given to children could help curb child rapes, said Van Niekerk, adding
that steeper sentences for rapists could also deter such attacks.
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- http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1462561,00.html
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