“Children must be protected from pedophiles,” cries out social activist

October 3, 2023 99

Social activist, Kekeletso Khena, says children must be protected from pedophiles, who she believes are all adult men who sleep with minors.

Khena has launched a petition calling on the Department of Health to introduce a policy that forces doctors to report cases of minors falling pregnant to the police.

In its 2019/2020 report, Stats SA revealed that KZN recorded the highest number of child pregnancies, followed by Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.

The social activist says her petition will also afford the children’s parents and police the chance to find the father, who should face the music if he is older than the minor.

“Children must be protected from pedophiles,” cries out social activist Nokwazi Qumbisa

Khena says by introducing this policy, health practitioners will be forced to report these cases to the police – which will boost efforts to curb the ever-increasing statutory rape.

It is estimated that nearly 6 000 people have so far signed the petition.

The social rights activist says South Africans cannot keep quite while the raping of minors continues.

“Children must be protected from pedophiles,” cries out social activist Nokwazi Qumbisa

Teachers are already mandated to report such incidents.

In 2021, the Department of Basic Education launched its Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy in Schools Act, which forces schools to report these cases to police.

The Soul City Institute for Social Justice’s CEO, Phinah Kodisang, believes an all hands on deck approach is needed to address social determinants of teenage pregnancy and the rape culture that’s firmly entrenched in the country.

Written by: Nokwazi Qumbisa

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