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CHAPTER 1
ORIENTATION
1.1 INIRODUCITON
[1]
The number of children abused and neglected each year, even by conservative
estimates, is staggering. Each year at least 700 American children are killed by their
parents or parent surrogates. It has been estimated that some 10 000 are severely
battered every year; 50 000 to 70 000 are sexually abused; 100 000 are emotionally
neglected; and another 100 000 are physically, morally and educationally neglected
(Iverson & Segal 1990 : 2).
Typical of a so-called ''Third World" country, South Africa has a much higher
percentage of young people in its total population, compared to the USA According
to the 1980 census figures 48,1% of the total South African population was below 19
years of age. Computing the figure of 9 900 abused children per year against the total
youth population, a prevalence rate of0,06% is found, exactly double that ofthe USA
In view of Straker's 1988 findings, and of the general knowledge of circumstances in
the country at this point in time, this estimate is probably far below reality, but well
within the estimates of some other researchers (De Vos 1991 : 14).
Child abuse can never be seen as simply "caused." Nor is it merely the inevitable
consequence of a child being born into a violent and disturbed family. In every case
a sequence of interrelated events leads up to the final catastrophe. While the
"pedigree" ofthe family generally sets the stage for abuse, the final outburst is a result
of the interaction between parent and child. Abuse is an extreme manifestation of
bonding failure. The formation and maintenance of a healthy bond is a two-way
process, influenced both by attributes in the child and by the perceptions and
expectations of the parents (Martin 1976 : 43).