Child prostitution rampant
2000-12-19 21:08
Johannesburg has a "massive problem" with child prostitution says Superintendent Andre Neethling of the Sex Crimes Unit, and "there are brothels in the suburbs which only focus on children." He said his unit was determined to disrupt the industry and bring it under control within the next two years.
Neethling, the commander of the Johannesburg unit for
Domestic Violence, Child Protection and Sex Crimes (DCS) said this unit, and
the Department of Social Development had recently launched a two year plan
to catch the big bosses behind the child prostitution rackets.
Meanwhile, the expert view is that there is little chance of rehabilitating the 25 child prostitutes who were removed from a hotel in Hillbrow by the police over the past week-end.
"Child prostitution is a behavioural problem which is difficult to change.
It's like an alcoholic who must decide to stop drinking" says Agness Muller, deputy director with the Department of Social Development.
Muller said that most of the children fell
back into their old routine because it was an easy way to earn money.
"Drugs and prostitution go hand in hand. Some earn money to support their
drug habits, and others use drugs to relieve the emotional pain.
"Some of the girls have described how they inject themselves an hour
before 'work', so that they don't have to think too much about the deed."
A Quick R20 for Sweets
According to her, some of the girls placed in safe havens walk to a cafe
quickly, earn a fast R20 by having oral sex with someone on the street, and
then buy sweets with the money.
"Children who are admitted to places of safety are regarded as being in need
of care, and, after investigations by social workers, are possibly reunited
with their parents or families.
"Those who cannot return to their parents'
homes are placed in children's homes, technical schools or in foster care by
a ruling of the Commissioner for Child Care," Muller said.
"The children can also simply run away if they want to. Many of them do that after
the children's court proceedings have already started."
Training is provided to make children proficient in other areas, and to
re-integrate them with their new families and society. According to Muller
it is impossible to determine how many child prostitutes are truly
rehabilitated.
Gathering Information
Superintendent Neethling said child prostitutes were currently taken off the streets and thoroughly
interrogated by the police.
In so doing, the DCS was trying to obtain as
much information surrounding the organised industry in Johannesburg as
possible, so as to be able to act successfully against it.