Child Rescue Magazine
Official magazine of the child rescue center
Official magazine of the child rescue center
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE…<br />
BY EWERT HAASBROEK<br />
‘THE TRUE CHARACTER OF A<br />
SOCIETY IS REVEALED IN HOW<br />
IT TREATS ITS CHILDREN.’<br />
These words were spoken by former President<br />
Nelson Mandela, and it still rings true today.<br />
In recent years and especially during Covid, there<br />
has been a multitude of cases reported of abuse<br />
against children whether physical, sexual or<br />
verbal. This abuse happens among us, by and to<br />
people you would not expect it from, people that<br />
look good and are respected in public.<br />
A concerned adult recently cared enough<br />
to report a case anonymously of a man who<br />
allegedly sexually abused a high school boy. The<br />
mother of the boy was aware of the situation but<br />
was either too afraid or embarrassed to speak up<br />
or report the matter. Was it not for the anonymous<br />
caller informant the sexual abuse of this boy<br />
would have been prolonged and possibly other<br />
boys would have been tormented by the same<br />
perpetrator.<br />
Another case was reported by a concerned<br />
neighbour about children growing up in a house<br />
where there is no food, but alcohol is always<br />
available. The dad starts drinking early in the<br />
morning and later in the day physically abuses<br />
the mother and children. His oldest son, in high<br />
school now, is following his dad’s footsteps<br />
without any intervention or course correction<br />
from his father.<br />
Another case reported was of a man using<br />
drugs who shouts at his children while under<br />
the influenceand and does not provide or care<br />
for them. Reportedly it is also common<br />
knowledge that he sleeps with women for<br />
money. All the while there are kids entrapped<br />
in this whole situation.<br />
The tragedy of the matter is that cases like<br />
these are a daily reality and get reported but<br />
due to factors such as a lack of people<br />
to investigate or reach out, institutions<br />
not receiving the required permits to<br />
intervene or government departments<br />
that are unable to take action due to a<br />
lack of funding to assist the innocent<br />
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