Child Rescue Magazine

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