THERE is no amount of language that can be found to condemn rape and the deep, destructive psychological scars that it inflicts on its victim.

Its brutal trauma would have left such horrible memories within the mental psyche that the abused are often made to relive its crushing ordeal, either intermittently, or through panic episodes, or flashbacks ever so often.

For this category of victims, in most cases, life is never the same again, and for so many reasons which are known and painful. But what about the younger victims—the children–who have now become the daily targets for these perverts?
Surely, the trauma would be equally devastating, given the earth-shattering, and unexplained violence that would have unexpectedly intruded their innocent young world. This type of daily hell, visited on so many of our young, can only create many a disturbed youth with serious challenges for our social system, both physical and mental health .

It can only be a type of human–a male–who definitely cannot be within the pale of normal behaviour, since the particular beastly attribute that causes him to commit such a despicable act as rape, comes from a perverted mind. For such a deviant, he has affixed a prey tag on women, whom he categorizes as game. And this includes the very young whom he considers ready to suffocate as a result of their unsuspecting and trusting minds.

It is never ever going to be a case of thinking twice, or re-considering his debauched actions. Such a mental self-check forms no part in such specie of predatory instinct. And this observation is gleaned from many of the cases disposed of so far in the Sexual Offences Court, where sex convicts, although found guilty because of incontrovertible evidence, offers no remorse, apart from even denying the accusation.

But this is a particular brand of convicted felon who has an innate disrespect for females. In his distorted purview, women are objects to be treated as such, in the most disdainful and animalistic manner. The recent case of the jailed-for- life, former would-be trade union leader, underlines the dilemma that such a convicted sexual abuser would have in a rehabilitation programme.

From a purely layman’s understanding, it is understood that rehabilitation for any convicted person begins with an admission of guilt, and a corresponding acceptance of responsibility for personal deed. The other components that follow would be sure to include the psychological and other trauma that would affect the victim, in addition to society’s disdain for such crimes, and reaction against the offender. This, we believe, may be applicable to any renewal initiative for sex felons.

Despite the denials and absence of remorse shown, the very lengthy sentences given should have a retributive effect, thereby bringing about the realisation that such an offence is abnormal, totally unacceptable to society, unlawful in every sense, and will be met with the maximum force of judicial sanction.

It is troubling in a nation that has a significantly young population that sexual abuse has become so commonplace and being committed by grown men who are fathers, step-fathers, and other type of family relations. Such men are definitely distorted in their view of themselves as family members. It is commendable that family members of the former trade unionist found the courage to denounce his attempts at leadership of a public social organization, against the background of his pending trial. Such actions need to be replicated in every community where our young children are suffering sexual abuse.

THERE is no amount of language that can be found to condemn rape and the deep, destructive psychological scars that it inflicts on its victim.

Its brutal trauma would have left such horrible memories within the mental psyche that the abused are often made to relive its crushing ordeal, either intermittently, or through panic episodes, or flashbacks ever so often.

For this category of victims, in most cases, life is never the same again, and for so many reasons which are known and painful. But what about the younger victims—the children–who have now become the daily targets for these perverts?

Surely, the trauma would be equally devastating, given the earth-shattering, and unexplained violence that would have unexpectedly intruded their innocent young world. This type of daily hell, visited on so many of our young, can only create many a disturbed youth with serious challenges for our social system, both physical and mental health .
It can only be a type of human–a male–who definitely cannot be within the pale of normal behaviour, since the particular beastly attribute that causes him to commit such a despicable act as rape, comes from a perverted mind. For such a deviant, he has affixed a prey tag on women, whom he categorizes as game. And this includes the very young whom he considers ready to suffocate as a result of their unsuspecting and trusting minds.
It is never ever going to be a case of thinking twice, or re-considering his debauched actions. Such a mental self-check forms no part in such specie of predatory instinct. And this observation is gleaned from many of the cases disposed of so far in the Sexual Offences Court, where sex convicts, although found guilty because of incontrovertible evidence, offers no remorse, apart from even denying the accusation.

But this is a particular brand of convicted felon who has an innate disrespect for females. In his distorted purview, women are objects to be treated as such, in the most disdainful and animalistic manner. The recent case of the jailed-for- life, former would-be trade union leader, underlines the dilemma that such a convicted sexual abuser would have in a rehabilitation programme.

From a purely layman’s understanding, it is understood that rehabilitation for any convicted person begins with an admission of guilt, and a corresponding acceptance of responsibility for personal deed. The other components that follow would be sure to include the psychological and other trauma that would affect the victim, in addition to society’s disdain for such crimes, and reaction against the offender. This, we believe, may be applicable to any renewal initiative for sex felons.

Despite the denials and absence of remorse shown, the very lengthy sentences given should have a retributive effect, thereby bringing about the realisation that such an offence is abnormal, totally unacceptable to society, unlawful in every sense, and will be met with the maximum force of judicial sanction.

It is troubling in a nation that has a significantly young population that sexual abuse has become so commonplace and being committed by grown men who are fathers, step-fathers, and other type of family relations. Such men are definitely distorted in their view of themselves as family members. It is commendable that family members of the former trade unionist found the courage to denounce his attempts at leadership of a public social organization, against the background of his pending trial. Such actions need to be replicated in every community where our young children are suffering sexual abuse.