Pictures start 0:00
Text starts 0:02
Almost every third child in South Africa is sexually abused like this nine year-old. This is the bed she was raped in by a neighbour.
0:20
She found refuge in Thabisile Msezanes house. For years now the 50 year-old has been taking in children off the streets. Today, shes got 56 young children and youths under her roof. All of them have been through traumatic experiences.
0:38
He grabbed her by the throat and raped her.
0:47
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
The men are worse than animals. I dont believe that every man that rapes a child has Aids. But, sadly its become a society that men try everything and inflict their power on helpless children and can get away with it.
1:10
Young children were taught earlier that they would have a better life than their parents. The centres financed by overseas donations.
1:27
Even when shes facing tough financial times, Thabisile keeps up her courage. The former teacher and trauma therapist isnt waiting for government support. Since the first democratic elections seven years ago nothing has changed for the poorest of the poor. The unemployment rate is so high that in many black townships only every fifth person has a job.
1:57
free
2:07
Most of these children have been abused. Not just by their fathers, relatives and neighbours, but also from men suffering from Aids who believe they can cure themselves by having sex with children.
2:22
O-sound
Maphefo
16 years old
He took me to his room and had sex with me.
2:27
Question: How did you feel afterwards?
2:28
It was terrible. I was sick the next day. I couldnt go to the doctor because the hospital was too far away.
2:36
O-sound
William
15 years old
Every Friday, when the farm workers are drunk they sleep with young girls. Some of them have already had babies.
2:45
According to the government, 15680 children were abused in the first nine months of last year. The unofficial count is much higher.
And, only every 10th rapist ends up behind bars.
3:00
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
More than three-quarters of our children are abused, either by someone in the family or in the neighbourhood. They are sexually, emotionally, physically and spiritually mistreated.
3:20
The children will never forget their trauma.
3:28
In rural areas, the rape rate is particularly high. Most of the farm workers get the same low pay as they did during the Apartheid era. Around 40 euros a month. Too much to die and too little to live. Thabisile is visiting a family here whose daughter found refuge with her.
3:58
The baby is three months old. Six family members live and sleep in this room.
4:16
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
She has five children. Her eldest daughter, whos living with us, is 14 years old. She was raped twice when she was a small child, and according to her evidence, that happened here at home by her father. Every two weeks he earns 20 euros and thats with five children. (4:40) She cooks Brie which isnt good for children.
4:46
Dr Joao da Fonseca, from Mozambiques been working for the last decade as a paediatric surgeon at the biggest hospital in the world, the Chris Hani Hospital in Soweto.
4:57
O-sound
Joao da Fonseca
Paediatric Surgeon
South Africa is plagued by Aids. Thats why we have this increasing abuse of children. Theres a superstition that you can become immune against Aids if you have sex with a virgin.
5:24
91 per cent of child rape victims know their abusers. Twenty per cent are raped by their own fathers.
5:33
O-sound
Joao da Fonseca
Paediatric surgeon
Weve seen horrific examples of sexual abuse with ripped vaginas or anuses. The pelvic muscles are partly or completely torn. For their whole lives such victims will be incontinent.
5:50
This girl, when she was 13, was raped by a black South African at a bus station. Despite being caught, he bribed the police, and was soon set free.
6:01
O-sound
Rape victim
He forced himself on me and demanded a kiss. I didnt want to, then he hit me. He said lie down. But I didnt want to. He hit me again then raped me.
6:22
Tonight, this rapist is going to be arrested again in Soweto. The police unit against child abuse is out looking for rapists and abusers almost every night. In the tangle of shacks, its difficult to find anyone.
6:37
During daylight, its almost impossible to arrest someone. At night, theres always the danger of being shot at.
6:50
A new law in South Africa can put rapists of children behind bars for life. At least thats what the law says on paper. But most are set free after a short space of time. The main reason is the non-functioning justice system and overflowing prisons. André Neethling has been leading the department for two years. Just a few weeks after taking up his job he had to put two of his 20 or so detectives behind bars because of corruption. He takes the stories of rape victims to heart.
7:27
O-sound
André Neethling
Special Unit against Child Abuse
The case which I can never forget is the rape of a five-month-old baby. I was OK until I saw this child. She was so small and I tried to imagine how anyone could have had sex with this baby. It was really awful.
7:48
The cameras hidden behind one-way mirrors. The four year-old describes what happened.
8:05
He put his thing penis in my pussy.
8:09
To prepare children for court theyre go to the Teddy Bear clinic for role-play. (free)
8:27
3000 rape victims have been treated here.
8:35
This 21 year-old and his four drinking mates raped a young girl.
8:44
The men surprised her on her way back home, which is often the case. The young woman knew the accused and called the police.
9:00
O-sound
Rapist
Our mother got some money together. Then she bribed the woman. So, she retracted the claim against us so we only spent four months in prison.
9:13
Question: Whom did you bribe. The mother or the daughter?
9:17
Both of them.
9:19
This girl was also the victim of a rape. (9:30) Shes now living in Thabisiles house and can only make short visits to her home. The nine year-old was raped by a neighbour. Hes still running free.
9:46
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
Hes free and probably committing similar crimes. And, thats because the policeman in charge has been bribed by his family. So, hes free.
10:02
free
10:10
The mother, as a child, was raped by three men. She knows she cant protect her daughter from the same crime. The victims are powerless. All they get is pain. Help is nowhere in sight.
10:24
text ends
10:30
pix ends
Text starts 0:02
Almost every third child in South Africa is sexually abused like this nine year-old. This is the bed she was raped in by a neighbour.
0:20
She found refuge in Thabisile Msezanes house. For years now the 50 year-old has been taking in children off the streets. Today, shes got 56 young children and youths under her roof. All of them have been through traumatic experiences.
0:38
He grabbed her by the throat and raped her.
0:47
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
The men are worse than animals. I dont believe that every man that rapes a child has Aids. But, sadly its become a society that men try everything and inflict their power on helpless children and can get away with it.
1:10
Young children were taught earlier that they would have a better life than their parents. The centres financed by overseas donations.
1:27
Even when shes facing tough financial times, Thabisile keeps up her courage. The former teacher and trauma therapist isnt waiting for government support. Since the first democratic elections seven years ago nothing has changed for the poorest of the poor. The unemployment rate is so high that in many black townships only every fifth person has a job.
1:57
free
2:07
Most of these children have been abused. Not just by their fathers, relatives and neighbours, but also from men suffering from Aids who believe they can cure themselves by having sex with children.
2:22
O-sound
Maphefo
16 years old
He took me to his room and had sex with me.
2:27
Question: How did you feel afterwards?
2:28
It was terrible. I was sick the next day. I couldnt go to the doctor because the hospital was too far away.
2:36
O-sound
William
15 years old
Every Friday, when the farm workers are drunk they sleep with young girls. Some of them have already had babies.
2:45
According to the government, 15680 children were abused in the first nine months of last year. The unofficial count is much higher.
And, only every 10th rapist ends up behind bars.
3:00
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
More than three-quarters of our children are abused, either by someone in the family or in the neighbourhood. They are sexually, emotionally, physically and spiritually mistreated.
3:20
The children will never forget their trauma.
3:28
In rural areas, the rape rate is particularly high. Most of the farm workers get the same low pay as they did during the Apartheid era. Around 40 euros a month. Too much to die and too little to live. Thabisile is visiting a family here whose daughter found refuge with her.
3:58
The baby is three months old. Six family members live and sleep in this room.
4:16
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
She has five children. Her eldest daughter, whos living with us, is 14 years old. She was raped twice when she was a small child, and according to her evidence, that happened here at home by her father. Every two weeks he earns 20 euros and thats with five children. (4:40) She cooks Brie which isnt good for children.
4:46
Dr Joao da Fonseca, from Mozambiques been working for the last decade as a paediatric surgeon at the biggest hospital in the world, the Chris Hani Hospital in Soweto.
4:57
O-sound
Joao da Fonseca
Paediatric Surgeon
South Africa is plagued by Aids. Thats why we have this increasing abuse of children. Theres a superstition that you can become immune against Aids if you have sex with a virgin.
5:24
91 per cent of child rape victims know their abusers. Twenty per cent are raped by their own fathers.
5:33
O-sound
Joao da Fonseca
Paediatric surgeon
Weve seen horrific examples of sexual abuse with ripped vaginas or anuses. The pelvic muscles are partly or completely torn. For their whole lives such victims will be incontinent.
5:50
This girl, when she was 13, was raped by a black South African at a bus station. Despite being caught, he bribed the police, and was soon set free.
6:01
O-sound
Rape victim
He forced himself on me and demanded a kiss. I didnt want to, then he hit me. He said lie down. But I didnt want to. He hit me again then raped me.
6:22
Tonight, this rapist is going to be arrested again in Soweto. The police unit against child abuse is out looking for rapists and abusers almost every night. In the tangle of shacks, its difficult to find anyone.
6:37
During daylight, its almost impossible to arrest someone. At night, theres always the danger of being shot at.
6:50
A new law in South Africa can put rapists of children behind bars for life. At least thats what the law says on paper. But most are set free after a short space of time. The main reason is the non-functioning justice system and overflowing prisons. André Neethling has been leading the department for two years. Just a few weeks after taking up his job he had to put two of his 20 or so detectives behind bars because of corruption. He takes the stories of rape victims to heart.
7:27
O-sound
André Neethling
Special Unit against Child Abuse
The case which I can never forget is the rape of a five-month-old baby. I was OK until I saw this child. She was so small and I tried to imagine how anyone could have had sex with this baby. It was really awful.
7:48
The cameras hidden behind one-way mirrors. The four year-old describes what happened.
8:05
He put his thing penis in my pussy.
8:09
To prepare children for court theyre go to the Teddy Bear clinic for role-play. (free)
8:27
3000 rape victims have been treated here.
8:35
This 21 year-old and his four drinking mates raped a young girl.
8:44
The men surprised her on her way back home, which is often the case. The young woman knew the accused and called the police.
9:00
O-sound
Rapist
Our mother got some money together. Then she bribed the woman. So, she retracted the claim against us so we only spent four months in prison.
9:13
Question: Whom did you bribe. The mother or the daughter?
9:17
Both of them.
9:19
This girl was also the victim of a rape. (9:30) Shes now living in Thabisiles house and can only make short visits to her home. The nine year-old was raped by a neighbour. Hes still running free.
9:46
O-sound
Thabisile Msezane
Sithabile Childrens Centre
Hes free and probably committing similar crimes. And, thats because the policeman in charge has been bribed by his family. So, hes free.
10:02
free
10:10
The mother, as a child, was raped by three men. She knows she cant protect her daughter from the same crime. The victims are powerless. All they get is pain. Help is nowhere in sight.
10:24
text ends
10:30
pix ends