Urgent action needed to address underage relationships in KZN

CHILD welfare advocates have raised their concerns about underage relationships in communities across KwaZulu-Natal.

- NADIA KHAN

They call for greater parental involvement and increased community awareness.

This urgency follows the recent case of a 13-year-old girl reported missing, but was allegedly found to have left home with a 25-year-old man. She was found a few days later.

Adeshini Naicker, the director of Childline in KZN, said the incident was concerning.

“Sadly, we are seeing more cases where young girls form secret relationships with older men, often through grooming, manipulation and online contact. It is a growing issue in the province, which places children at severe risk.”

Naicker said the organisation regularly dealt with cases where minors “went missing”, but were found to have left their homes with adult partners.

“In these situations, we work closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Social Development (DSD), and the family to ensure the child is safely recovered, medically assessed, given counselling, and that the case is referred for investigation and protection services.”

Naicker said there were various reasons why children often left home with adult partners.

“They are groomed over time, promised love, gifts or freedom, or because they are experiencing difficulties at home such as conflict, neglect, or lack of supervision. Older partners take advantage of their vulnerability and limited understanding of danger.

“However, parents and communities can help by keeping open communication with children, monitoring online activity, being alert to sudden behavioural changes, and reporting suspicious adult behaviour early. Society also needs to challenge the harmful normalisation of older men pursuing young girls, and ensure that these cases are treated as serious crimes, not relationships,” she said.