The trafficking of children for purposes of sexual exploitation

Alleged police involvement and corruption in the traffic of children further make it difficult for
children to trust that the police will assist in their rescue or be willing to investigate allegations of
abduction and sexual exploitation against traffickers. 97
Some newspaper reports have also identified policemen as sex exploiters. 98
9. Service provision to sexually exploited children
Organisations indicated varied responses to service provision, the
nature of the response is influenced by the following factors:
• knowledge about children in prostitution
• the willingness to acknowledge the existence of the
phenomenon
• available resources to deal with the problem.
Most organisations interviewed indicated that the biggest
obstacle to service provision is lack of resources to provide
services on an ongoing sustained basis. Organisations that do
Box 3: Section 14 (4) (a) (iii)
The Child Care Act (1983 as
amended 1999)
A child is in need of care if the
child lives in circumstances
likely to cause or conduce to
his or her seduction, abduction
or sexual exploitation.
provide services that include rescue and alternative placement indicated that the need far outstrips
the available capacity, in terms of financial and human resources, and alternative placement
facilities.
The value of service provision and active intervention is evidenced by the interview conducted with
a child rescued from prostitution.
Two field researchers (FR1 and FR2) interviewed Lerato, a child survivor of sexual exploitation.
Lerato was in a place of safety and care at the time of the interview. At the macro level the
unemployment of her father was an overriding factor which resulted in poverty. At the meso level
the illness of her mother and the absences of her father were contributing factors. Her helplessness
and sense of duty were additional contributing factors, at the micro level.
Lerato is not her real name. It is rather a name she chose for herself for this report. Names of
caregivers have also been changed. An extract of this interview, is presented here, for the purpose
of providing an example of a child coerced into sexual exploitation. The provision of counselling,
and integration into school and "family" life in an alternative non-institutional setting have
improved Lerato's self-esteem and sense of belonging.
Map 1: Interprovincial trafficking
97 As evidenced by testimony from survivors. See police collusion in Chapter 6
98 See for instance: P. Motale The Star 14/9/1999 and interviews in Chapter 6
35