Incest and defilement abound in Kgatleng

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday December 13, 2010 00:00

Dineo Segobai, who spoke at the commemoration of '16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence' in Mochudi last Thursday, said that it is unfortunate that most of the cases go unreported as the community and other officials that have access to such incidents are not cooperative. Labelling this as a sort of 'disease', Segobai said it is unfortunate that relatives protect perpetrators at the expense of the child. As a result, most cases are covered up.

'From January to September this year, we have received nine cases which present themselves twice as defilement and incest,' she said, adding that in November they were made aware of three other cases during an orphan retreat.

She spoke strongly against the mindset harboured by parents in the area of resorting to solve issues at family level, which she said could lead to the problem recurring. Segobai urged people to engage the legislation in such issues, as failure results in the destruction of children's lives.

'Worse still, it can be a triple burden as some children end up contracting HIV,' she said. 

Segobai called upon all stakeholders, especially teachers, nurses, the police and parents to come in the open and help protect children's rights. She further told them about the 2009 Children's Act, which describes the role of the social worker in childcare.When implemented, it will have a stiff penalty for conniving with people who get into sexual affairs with minors.

Asked on measures they have employed to this effect to combat this cancer, she recommended retreat camps for grief, a programme phased out in 2009. It has been fruitful in 10 districts where they have mobilised about 151 vulnerable children on the issues.  She also added that it is at these camps that they get leads on acts of incest and defilement because children always ask how a colleague dropped out of school if sexual activities for people their age is not permissible. 

Meanwhile, police statistics reveal that murder cases have increased to nine compared to last year's three in Kgatleng. Mochudi Officer Commanding, Seabe Maboka, encouraged women to desist from their abundant love for material gains as most of the violence they are caught in evolves around such issues.