Women and children continue to experience high rates of sexual violence, despite democratic South Africa’s progressive sexual offences laws.
During the 2018/2019 period, sexual offences increased by 4.6%.
68.5% of the survivors were women.
While more than 80% of these crimes were reported, the conviction rate remains low.
Only 8% of the suspects brought to court over rape get convicted.
Experts cite failure to send evidence kits for further laboratory analysis, interview survivors, trace and prosecute perpetrators as some of the reasons for this.
Our producer Lindiwe Mabena spoke to a father of a 10-year-old girl who feels let down by the justice system.
Watch full report below:
