Many African schoolgirls have been sexually abused aby schoolmates or teachers, with little response from authorities. PHOTO-REUTERS

A South African parliamentarian wept during a hearing on schoolgirl rape that reminded her of her own traumatic experiences. Hendrietta Bogopane broke down during hearings on a report on sexual violence in schools by New York-based Human Rights Watch, the South African Press Association (SAPA) reported. The report revealed that thousands of schoolgirls were being raped and sexually harassed by classmates and their teachers in the crime-ridden country.

Human Rights Watch interviewed 36 victims, including a nine-year-old who was gang-raped by classmates and a 15-year-old sexually assaulted by her teacher at school. Most victims interviewed had received hostile or indifferent responses from school authorities, forcing many to drop out of their studies because of the trauma. Bogopane, a representative for the ruling African National Congress (ANC), told fellow MPs that she was sexually abused by a teacher in a school for the disabled when she was 17 years old. She has only partial eyesight. Bogopane became pregnant and was kicked out of the school.

South Africa‘s commercial centre, Johannesburg, has earned a reputation as rape capital of the world. On average, one rape occurs every 23 seconds but only one in 37 victims reports their assault to the authorities, according to rape support group www.rape.co.za

REUTERS