New statistics reveal a troubling trend in South Africa, with 890 cases of rape committed by children this financial year, highlighting a deep societal crisis that demands urgent action and intervention.
Alarming new statistics from the Department of Justice have highlighted a growing crisis in South Africa, where children are increasingly becoming perpetrators of sexual violence.
The figures, released during the commencement of Child Protection Month (CPM) by the National Department of Social Development (DSD), reveal the disturbing extent of child-on-child sexual offences.
The Department of Justice’s statistical records for the 2025/26 financial year show 890 cases of rape committed by children. Equally concerning are the 22 reported cases, where children were recorded as committing statutory rape.
These figures come against a backdrop of overall sexual abuse against children, with 129 rape victims being under 18 years old, and the National Child Protection Register recording 3,258 sexual abuse cases in the first three quarters of the 2025/26 financial year. Overall, statutory rape cases also increased significantly to 199, up from 127 in the previous financial year.
