Kgatleng records 120 defilement cases, sparking urgent concern

Kgatleng District has recorded 120 cases of defilement, a troubling figure that has placed the safety of children under intense scrutiny.These cases are accompanied by 51 rape incidents and 26 reports of child ill‑treatment, painting a grim picture of the challenges facing families across the district.Delivering his address this week, Kgatleng District Council Chairman, Thabo Sello Komane, said the surge in cases demands urgent and united action.He stressed that the district cannot turn a blind eye to a crisis that is targeting its youngest and most vulnerable members, adding that harmful social attitudes and silence around abuse continue to put children at risk.To confront these challenges, the district has widened its child protection network by creating 24 new village child protection committees, up from just four previously. These committees have improved reporting channels and strengthened community vigilance, ensuring that children in distress have places to turn to.Komane cited a recent survey conducted by the Mosanta North Child Protection Committee, which shows that communities are becoming more alert to signs of abuse and more confident in reporting it. He said all Mochudi wards and 21 villages in the district have already been covered by the committee’s awareness work, setting the tone for district‑wide engagement.Kgatleng also boasts of early childhood development support, with structured playgroups now enrolling 113 children, including those from remote areas. These playgroups are designed to prepare young children for school while keeping them in safe, stimulating spaces.The district has 64 day‑care centres, and 58 of these now meet licensing requirements. Efforts are underway to help the remaining centres reach compliance so that every child has access to safe early childhood services.Alongside child protection, the district continues to support vulnerable households through social protection programmes. A total of 4,444 beneficiaries are currently receiving assistance.Of these, 1,893 are destitute persons, 1,657 are needy students, including 345 living with disabilities, 587 are orphans, 21 are under Community Home‑Based Care, and 286 are children in need of protection. Komane said no eligible resident should miss out on support, especially those facing extreme hardship.The Council Chairperson urged parents, guardians, traditional leaders, and community members to take responsibility for the welfare of children in their neighbourhoods. He said the rise in defilement and rape cases should concern everyone, not just authorities, and called for collective action to protect children.

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Kgatleng records 120 defilement cases, sparking urgent concern