APRIL 2018 D ST- N RF C E NT R E O F E XC E LLE N C E IN H UM A N D E V E LO PM E N T

Few safe places for

South African children
Children in Soweto-Johannesburg, studied over time, are either
victims or witnesses to aggression between parents, between
parents and children, teachers and learners, amongst learners
themselves, and strangers in their communities.

In Soweto-Johannesburg
“…Save The Children

99%
Experi
ence violence in i
ntim
ate
estimated the costs of
es rel
RELATIONSH
m ati
eir ho on
s violence in our society
I
th
de
TY

hi
I due to death, ill-health

ps
i
ts

PS
ou

rs
COMMUN
ime

of all children

e
and poor mental health,

h
ness violent cr

80%
c
H O OL
a
experience

y te
reduced earnings and
lt e d b
violence
of primary school

C
before they sau
welfare at around
HOM
t

children report
Wi

S
as

being victims of
turn 18
d

violence.
an

E R238 billion… “
s
Su

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er ee
ff

be y p
a ti d b

90%
ng llie
sa Bu
nd w
itness e
violence in the hom

66%
of South African parents of secondary
report beating their school children
report being
4-to-5-year-old children victims of violence.

T he longitudinal Birth to Twenty

Plus study found that only 1%
of children in Soweto-Johannesburg
violence at home, while more boys
report violence at school.
Children who have few safe
Prof. Linda Richter is a Distinguished
Professor and the Director of the DST-
NRF Centre of Excellence in Human
Development at the University of the
did not experience violence before spaces at home, school or in Witwatersrand.
18 years of age. These children were their community can become
Prof. Shanaaz Mathews is Director
threatened or beaten at home, at desensitized to violence. The high
of the Children’s Institute at the
school or in their neighbourhood. level of violence in South African University of Cape Town and a Lead
Violence in childhood can lead to society has at least some of its Investigator in the DST-NRF Centre of
poor mental and physical health origins in violence witnessed and Excellence in Human Development.

with adverse effects on progress experienced in childhood. Dr. Juliana Kagura is a Senior
through school, work productivity Save The Children estimated Researcher at the Developmental
Pathways to Health Research Unit in
and social stability. the costs of violence in our society
the University of the Witwatersrand.
Starting at home, two thirds of due to death, ill-health and poor
parents reported regularly beating mental health, reduced earnings Dr. Engelbert Nonterah is a researcher
at the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in
their 4-to-5-year-olds with sticks, and welfare at around R238 billion,
Human Development.
belts and shoes. More than 80% roughly 5% of South Africa’s gross
of children in their primary school domestic product in 2015.
years, and more than 90% during Preventing violence has to be
their secondary school years, a priority for everyone in South
reported being victims of violence at Africa. Children who experience or
home, at school, in their community witness violence carry the damage
or in their intimate relationships. as fear and insecurity. As adults
More girls report experiencing they are more likely to hit first!

1st Floor, School of Public Health,

University of the Witwatersrand
York Road, Parktown,
Johannesburg 2193,
South Africa
DST-NRF Centre of Excellence
in Human Development Director: Professor Linda Richter
Individual and Society
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