Teenage pregnancies account for a third of all births in South Africa

Schoolgirls across the country are sexually abused and harassed almost daily by teachers and schoolboys.

This was according to a Human Rights Watch report in 2001 - and in 2007 the situation remains the same.

According to a presentation by Danaline Franzman of the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), on behalf of Judith Cohen, teenage girls in different provinces and townships have similar experiences at school.

Speaking at the eighth annual forum of the SA Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Franzman said sexual violence, harassment and stereotyping emerged during two public hearings held in October 2005 and September last year.

"Of great concern were the accounts of teachers who were taking advantage of their position of authority and coercing girls into sex," she said.

Examples were given of a girl who was late for school and had to have sex with a teacher before she was allowed on the premises. Teachers apparently also exchanged food for sex from poor schoolgirls.

One schoolgirl felt that her school did not protect the pupils as teachers only received warnings.

"More alarming is how sexual violence begins at a very young age in South Africa," Franzman said.

She referred to a psychologist at a public hearing who said that children on the Cape Flats played games such as "hit me, hit me" and "rape me, rape me".

This demonstrated the degree of brutalisation young children were subjected to, she said.

Violence had become highly sexualised and occurred too regularly, she said.

Sexual violence and coercion at school was a sign of a "deeper unspoken systemic problem" that spilled over from the communities.

These crimes, ranging from verbal harassment to rape, were grossly under-reported. Therefore it was critical for the education department to strengthen reporting and accountability mechanisms to deal with sexual offences at schools, the SAHRC said.

Violence also had an impact on a child's right to basic education, as the victim may be unable to concentrate or may drop out of school.

Teenage pregnancy account for a third of all births in South Africa. This could be because of peer pressure of being sexually active or a lack of life skills. Another worrying trend is the link between teenage pregnancies and child support grants.

The SAHRC added: "More likely reasons are empowerment disparities and inequalities that still exist between men and women in our society. Young girls are often not in a position to negotiate consensual sex or the use of contraception."

Even where sexual violence was reported, the response by authorities was not always aimed at protecting the victim.

In September 2006 the SAHRC had to obtain a court order against the Gauteng department of education to use disciplinary procedures against a teacher accused of sexually assaulting a pupil.

The SAHRC argued that sexual violence in schools was in direct conflict with the constitution, which protects a child's right to education, dignity and safety.

Franzman noted that no school was an island, but part of a community. She suggested the education department, police and the community meet to seek a solution.