By Loxion News Staff Writer
Date: 09 October 2025
Gauteng is facing a growing statutory rape crisis, with 13,981 cases of sexual abuse involving minors reported over the last four financial years. This staggering figure highlights the worsening safety situation for children — particularly girls aged between 11 and 16 years old — across the province.
According to information revealed by Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), each of these cases was formally documented through Form 22s — mandatory reports that must be completed when there is evidence of child sexual abuse.
Disturbing Breakdown of Reported Cases
Mazibuko’s response detailed the following:
- 2022/2023 financial year: 5,432 cases
- 2023/2024 financial year: 3,585 cases
- 2024/2025 financial year: 3,634 cases
- First quarter of 2025/2026: 1,330 cases
While these figures paint a devastating picture, Mazibuko did not disclose how many of the reported cases were investigated by the police, raising concerns about accountability and justice for victims.
DA Calls for Interdepartmental Action
The Democratic Alliance’s Gauteng Leader of the Official Opposition, Solly Msimanga MPL, condemned the situation as a “distressing reflection of Gauteng’s failure to protect its children.” He stressed that the Departments of Education, Social Development, Health, and Community Safety must collaborate to ensure that every case reported through Form 22 is handed over to the police for investigation.
“It is alarming and disheartening that our innocent children are growing up as victims of this serious violation, which severely impacts their futures,” said Msimanga.
Push for Police Accountability
The DA has announced plans to table follow-up questions in the legislature to determine:
- Whether all reported cases have been investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS)
- The number of arrests and convictions made
- And the case numbers and investigating officers’ details to ensure proper tracking and justice for victims.
Msimanga further stated that a DA-led Gauteng government would ensure that all incidents of sexual abuse are immediately reported to police, investigations are prioritised, and perpetrators are brought to justice swiftly.
Protecting Gauteng’s Children
This crisis underscores an urgent need for stronger child protection systems, more transparent police reporting, and harsher consequences for perpetrators. As the province grapples with these horrifying statistics, civil society and lawmakers alike are demanding decisive action to make Gauteng safer for its children.
