KZN Social Development bemoans child abuse in eThekwini
KZN Social
Development says that eThekwini Municipality recently, reported the highest
number of abuse cases against children, in the province.
It's been reflecting on the stats as the country marks Child Protection Month.
The department says it's handled over 800 cases in the fourth quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year.
Sexual abuse topped the list with over 400 incidents reported.
Deliberate neglect stands at 271.
200 cases were recorded in eThekwini, followed by 120 in uMgungundlovu.
Buyisiwe Sophazi is responsible for children's services at KZN Social Development.
She says what is more concerning is that, in some of these cases, the perpetrators are the children's own parents.
She's stressed the need for open dialogue:
"What we are going to do now, is to implement inter-generational dialogues where we have structured conversations with the children and parents. It's so we can come up with interventions that are intended to mitigate or address the challenges."
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