SOUTH AFRICA
SABC News
Monday 22 May 2017
Lopang Alamu
A group, known as the Frankel Eight, are trying to overturn the statute of limitations for sex offenders. The eight claim to have been sexually abused by late billionaire Sydney Frankel.
It is estimated that 80% of sexually violated children were victimised by someone they know.
The Frankel eight have taken the first step in a lengthy legal journey. They claim they were abused over 30 years ago.
On Monday, the applicants petitioned the Johannesburg High Court. Their main task was to try and overturn a statute of limitations law. This states that after 20 years, victims of sexual abuse no longer have a criminal case against the perpetrator.
“Currently the courts are saying that sexual violence and sexual molestation is not as serious as rape because there was no form of penetration and the impact of being molested for years is much worse,” says Women and Men against Child Abuse’s Miranda Friedmann.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.