Reaction Unit South Africa has increased the number of female reaction officers to their response team to cope with the rising sexual assault cases.
Image: Reaction Unit South Africa
Recent reports indicate a troubling rise in sexual assault cases involving minors in Verulam and surrounding areas, with family members often implicated.
Experts are calling for stronger prevention measures and community awareness.
Prem Balram, the head of Reaction Unit South Africa, said they had attended 23 alleged cases of sexual violations in recent weeks.
He said in a number of the cases - stepfathers, cousins, uncles and other close family members have been identified as suspects.
Balram said additional female reaction officers have now been added to the response team to cope with the cases.
“In the cases there are girls between the ages of six and 15 who have (allegedly) been subjected to unwanted touching of a sexual nature, forced kissing, sexual acts or sexual intercourse.
“Furthermore, reaction officers dealing with these cases have further established that family members have covered up these crimes or were uncooperative with information that could lead to the arrest of wanted suspects,” he said.
Balram added that the mothers of several victims have also maintained relationships with perpetrators.
“In some instances, the abuse has gone unreported for lengthy periods. Additionally, reaction officers have reported back that some of the cases were fabricated by minor females in an attempt to conceal relationships with adult males uncovered by parents.”
Meanwhile, according to recently released crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year (January to March 2026), there were 12,590 cases of sexual offences reported across the country during this period.
It was a decrease of 6,4% (862 cases) when compared to the same period last year.
Among the sexual offences cases - 1,950 were sexual assaults and 9,782 were rapes reported during this period across the country.
According to the statistics there were 2,589 sexual offence cases reported in KwaZulu-Natal.
In respect of sexual offences, Verulam featured among the top 30 stations with the highest number of cases.
It ranked 18th country and 7th in the province with 50 cases reported during that period. It was also 6th in the province with 41 rapes reported.
Adeshini Naicker, the director of Childline KwaZulu-Natal, said while there may have been a decline in some sexual offences, the number of women and children still being violated remains deeply concerning.
“It is especially alarming that many of these crimes are happening in victims’ own homes, where they should feel safest. This shows that abuse and violence are still major problems within families and communities.”
Naicker said many victims remain silent due to fear, shame, dependence on the abuser, or fear of not being believed.
“More needs to be done through education, awareness, stronger support services, and early intervention. We need more social workers, counsellors, and safe spaces for victims, while also ensuring communities speak openly about abuse and support those who come forward.”
Dr Shaheda Omar, director of the Teddy Bear Foundation said: “While any decline in sexual offences is encouraging, the continued high levels of rape and violence against women and children remain deeply concerning.”
She said addressing the crisis requires more than reactive measures.
“We need stronger prevention programmes, early education on consent, bodily autonomy and healthy relationships, improved community awareness, strengthened child protection and survivor support services, effective policing, and greater accountability within the justice system.
“Violence against women and children is a societal issue that demands a coordinated, sustained response from families, communities, schools, government, and civil society,” said Omar.
Dr Lubna Nadvi, chairperson of the Advice Desk for the Abused, said it most distressing to note the high numbers of women and children who have become victims of sexual violence in South Africa over the last few years.
“In particular the incidences of rape by persons known to the victim is even more troubling as family members, elders and friends are supposed to be one's protectors and not potential rapists.
“We need an immediate and total reset of values and educational frameworks in this country starting from the home and pre school level if we are to win the war against gedner-based violence and create a generation that will think twice before perpetrating any kind of sexual violence against another person,” she said.