Labour migration to South Africa has led to a disturbing rise in child sexual harassment cases in Quthing, with adolescent girls aged 13 to 17 being the most affected.
Many children are left vulnerable to abuse and human trafficking when parents and guardians seek employment in South Africa, particularly in Ceres, Western Cape, leaving them unattended.
Senior Superintendent ‘Mamoipone Mohloai, the assistant police commander in Quthing, told Newsday on Wednesday that a significant number of parents working in South Africa neglect their young children, exposing them to severe risks.
“This situation has resulted in a surge of sexual harassment cases and unplanned pregnancies,” Mohloai said.
She highlighted a critical need to protect children from abuse and irresponsible behaviour due to excessive drinking, as they are often targeted by older men when returning from local taverns.
She firmly stated that, in addition to parental negligence, the owners of drinking establishments are complicit in this issue by permitting young children to consume alcohol.
“Tavern owners admit that they often struggle to determine if a buyer is underage,” she said.
Many parents are understandably distressed to discover that their daughters are pregnant upon returning from South Africa.
“We must focus on the fact that children are sometimes subjected to various forms of abuse, often by individuals within their close circle, including relatives and friends. It is imperative that this issue is addressed urgently to protect vulnerable youth in the region,” she explained.
Mohloai further stressed that the situation prompts important discussions and actions, including police, schools and public intervention. To combat these issues, she said they are collaborating with other stakeholders to implement comprehensive child protection programs aimed at safeguarding children whose rights are being infringed upon.
Additionally, she said tackling the problem of early child marriage in Quthing is crucial, as some parents are pressuring their children into unlawful marriages.
“By raising awareness and working together, we can create a safer environment for all children,” she suggested.
In Lesotho, one in seven women and one in twenty men aged 18 years and older experienced sexual violence at least once in their childhood, according to a 2020 report by the Ministry of Social Development.
The report indicated that sexual violence may lead to long-term mental and physical health issues among victims, regardless of gender. Sexual violence is associated with mental distress, self-harm behaviours, suicidal ideation, and substance misuse throughout the victim’s life course.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that globally, some 40 million children aged 0–14 years suffer some form of abuse and neglect, requiring health and social care. The most devastating is child sexual abuse (CSA).
The report: ‘Child Sexual Abuse: A Silent Health Emergency,’ indicates there is usually a strong element of denial and guilt if the suspected perpetrator is a family member.
“If a girl is sexually abused, she loses her worth for marriage. The child lives with the trauma but without professional and social counselling and support. The mother’s low status in the family and certain social taboos prevent reporting of such incidents,” stated the report.
WHO further reports that child abuse and neglect is a prevailing problem in all generations, socioeconomic strata and societies. The magnitude of the problem in the African region is not known, and information from authoritative studies is scarce.
In the African region, economic poverty and affluence, armed conflicts and the breakdown of family and social systems are listed as the main risk factors for CSA, opening the doors for child labour, child
trafficking, child prostitution and child pornography. In such circumstances, it is shown that human life has little value, and children become the main victims.
Development Journalist specialising in the reporting of social, economic, and environmental issues. He analyses the impact of policies and programs on communities, along with other factors that influence community well-being. In addition to his journalism endeavors, he is an accomplished photojournalist, capturing compelling images that complement his narratives. Masoabi is also an audio storytelling podcaster, having earned certification from the Knight Centre for Journalism, affiliated with the University of Texas, United States.
