[LISTEN] More adults now reporting childhood abuse cases

4 June 2019 5:24 PM

The South African Police Service family violence, child protection and sexual offences' (FCS's) Gauteng provincial co-ordinator Lieutenant-colonel Smangele Mntambo says incidents of child abuse are being reported consistently, with adults coming forward about past incidents in which they were subjected to abuse.

Mntambo says the late disclosure may be because some adults have been afraid to talk all these years and have been subjected to threats from the perpetrators.

We are getting most of the reports now, recently we are receiving cases where people have been abused a long time ago.
— Lieutenant-colonel Smangele Mntambo, Gauteng provincial co-ordinator - FCS

There can be numerous reasons, some are afraid to talk depending on the situation. Perpetrators put threats on them saying should you dare talk I will kill you.
— Lieutenant-colonel Smangele Mntambo, Gauteng provincial co-ordinator - FCS

She says parents tend to doubt their children and cross question them before reporting.

We take whatever statement comes with child and proceed with the cases.
— Lieutenant-colonel Smangele Mntambo, Gauteng provincial co-ordinator - FCS

While the information should come from the parent, Mntambo says proper procedure is carried out by police which includes interviewing the child with the help of a forensic social worker.

Click on the link below to hear more from Mntambo...

This article first appeared on 702 : [LISTEN] More adults now reporting childhood abuse cases

Written by: Neo Koza