Long-term plan needed to protect children: expert
A long-term solution needs to be included in South Africa's plans to tackle child abuse.
This according to child protection consultant, Joan Van Niekerk.
Van Niekerk has been giving her views on the state of abuse in the country - after an Empangeni court yesterday sentenced a 45-year-old man to life behind bars for raping his child.
"Every single family in this country that has a son has to think about tomorrow and what that son will be like - how will they use their masculinity? Will they use it to harm or will they use it to protect?" she said.
The 11-year-old, who'd been abused since she was eight, also suffered a miscarriage. While Van Niekerk has welcomed the sentence, she says child abuse needs to be stopped before it gets out of hand.
"Talk to children, educate them and give them resources that they can turn to. They can use Childline and ask for help. In the long-term, utilise therapy and reporting centres for boys," she said.