What are the child abuse statistics in South Africa?
In 2016, the first-ever nationally representative study of child maltreatment in South Africa was published, showing that over 40% of young people have experienced some form of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect at some point in their lives. This study reported on interviews that were conducted with 15 to 17 year olds about their lifetime experiences of violence and abuse across South Africa. This figure is high, but it is not unusual: similar studies on violence against children have been conducted across 12 other countries, with many revealing equally high rates.
