Social Development
Question by:
Hon Wendy Kaizer-Philander
Answered by:
Hon Jaco Londt
Question Number:
17
Question Body:
With regard to child pregnancy cases:
- How many cases of suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, were reported to his Department in terms of section 110(1) of the Children’s Act, 2005 (Act 38 of 2005), in (i) 2020/21, (ii) 2021/22, (iii) 2022/23, (iv) 2023/24 and (v) 2024/25 and (b)(i) how many cases of suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, were reported otherwise in the same period as in (a) above and (ii) what are the relevant details of each case?
Answer Body:
- With regard to child pregnancy cases, the Western Cape Department of Social Development does not have disaggregated data available with regards to sexual abuse.
- Statistics on sexual abuse and other child abuse reported to the Department:
Sexual Abuse:
2020 / 2021 – 2286
2021 / 2022 – 2331
2022 / 2023 – 2946
2023 / 2024 – 2946
2024 / 2025 – 2871
General Child Abuse Statistics (excluding sexual abuse):
2020 / 2021:
Physical abuse – 923
Emotional abuse – 485
Deliberate neglect – 2015
2021 / 2022:
Physical abuse – 1248
Emotional abuse – 725
Deliberate neglect – 2584
2022 / 2023:
Physical abuse – 1399
Emotional abuse – 839
Deliberate neglect – 2493
2023 / 2024:
Physical abuse – 1865
Emotional abuse – 1706
Deliberate neglect – 3284
2024 / 2025:
Physical abuse –1848
Emotional abuse –1476
Deliberate neglect – 3389
Date:
Friday, October 31, 2025
