Rise in child rape cases worrying: Crisis Centre
The Rape Crisis Centre says while it's pleased with the life sentence handed down to a KZN man for the rape of a 7-year-old boy - as a country, we are failing our children.
The centre's Makhosazana Nxumalo says more than 40 000 cases of child rape were reported in the country last year. 7000 reports were made here in KZN.
She says 9% of the child victims were below the age of 9.
"We are concerned with the statistics of sexual assault - particularly. Countrywide, it's 51 000 and KZN is leading in terms of statistics, especially those that pertain to children who are forced into marriages," Nxumalo said.
Nxumalo says perpetrators target children because they're less likely to report the attacks.
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In the case involving the 7-year-old boy - two years ago, his 33-year-old uncle attacked him in the child's home in Durban's outer west area of Inchanga.
The police's Thulani Zwane says he was caught by members of the community.
"Community members handed the suspect over to police, he was arrested and charged for rape," Zwane said.