Working in South Africa:

Following several visits made by Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive and, latterly, Liz Williams, Trustee, to South Africa in 2005/6, and against the background of growing violence and tensions in townships and the rural areas we have determined how donations will be spent.

Background to our work

In South Africa violence, premature death and illness are widespread. Within this setting the most vulnerable in society are mainly at risk. Some of the relevant facts that have led us to begin work in South Africa on the emotive issues of small child abuse are:

• Most abuse is sexual but there are also very high numbers of physical and emotional abuse – sometimes all three.
• Most children are abused by a ‘known’ other
• In May 2002 the SA government said that 5,859^[1] cases of rape of young children were reported to the South African Police Services. Many estimates^[2] put the number at 7 times this figure: 41,013
•  In 2004 Childline SA noted a massive increase in the numbers of child sexual abuse, up by 400% was recorded on the previous 10 years^[3]
• For example, in Kwazulu province, over 75% of all rapes are against children^[4] younger than 18 years old
• In 2001^[5] two thousand and forty [2,040] children in one province, Gauteng, under 12 years of age were physically and traumatically raped.
• It was reported in 2004 that 50% of all children attending KwaZulu therapy services^[6] [the only figures available] following abuse were under 7 years old
• Because of the lack of facilities and services and safe havens many abuse sufferers have to return to their ‘families’
• HIV/AIDs is decimating families and extended families; child-headed families are becoming the norm, and they are in the greatest danger from abusers simply because they are the least protected
• The numbers of orphans of all ages, particularly babies, is rising due to HIV/AIDs deaths, in some provinces over 40% of the children have lost both their biological parents and are either living with caretakers or on their own as sibling groups^[7]
• The numbers of street children left alone during the day is rising rapidly – they are extremely vulnerable
• The age of the perpetrators is getting younger – according to Childline SA^[8] ages of 9 and 10 years are not uncommon
• Only around 1½ % of perpetrators are found guilty and convicted
• Children from all racial groups are raped with the numbers proportionate to the population figures
• Unemployment in at least 5 of the 8 provinces in South Africa is running at around 70%
• Many children leave school before they have the opportunity to matriculate at approximately 18 years
• Research evidence in South Africa into the cause of and likely solutions to child abuse is extremely limited^[9]
• There are many different models of providing frontline care for children/people who have been abused. The National Prosecuting Authority provides some funds for Thutuzelas [crisis centres] and there they aim to bring together all the elements of treatment and follow-up care
• The Thutuzelas are staffed by willing but largely untrained volunteers and a few paid care workers
• Volunteers are currently paid a stipend of between R500 – R800 per month [approximately £40 - £70] and many, unfortunately, see volunteering as a job, which it is not.
• Some services will not use volunteers or only use them for a maximum of 1 year, but it is hard as this is often the only income a family of 8 or 10 people live on.
• Many volunteers work 80+ hours a week - there is such a shortage of funds for stipends hence the centres are very short of people.
• Volunteers are a major source of information and knowledge for their community

Our plans

In the light of all this we have determined to fund projects as close to where the abuse is happening as possible, and only through viable and recognised organisations where the chances of additional abuse are minimised and where we can work with the organisations to improve services for children.
We firmly believe that if we help women and communities gain knowledge and skills this will help them into paid work, it will assist in their individual and collective futures and help the mothers of the future to protect their own children. The empowerment and ability of women to be economically self-sufficient is crucial, and training is a vital element.

To achieve our aims of alleviating, treating and preventing the abuse of infants and small children we have devised a simple 4-point plan:

Our aim, always, is to help break the cycle of abuse.

Lesley Rudd
Chief Executive
the infant trust