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The shack in Middelpos, Saldanha Bay, where Joshlin lived with her mother Kelly and her
three-year-old sister. (David Harrison/MG)

Charges dropped against one accused in Joshlin Smith case

The state says the matter is ready to be transferred to the high court

(John McCann/M&G)

Hitting children is never okay!

Wise words are just as effective in countering unwanted behaviour in children, with none of the long-term effects of physical punishment

Street life: Racing with a shopping trolley provides an all-too-rare moment of fun for the at-risk children of Mahikeng. Photos: Delwyn Verasamy

State fails at-risk children as R55m orphanage stands empty

Boikagong Centre in Mahikeng has been closed for almost two years because it did not meet safety requirements. The discarded children say they want a safe place to learn, but…

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues in its second year, the global organised crime network remains rife. (Fadel Senna/ AFP)

We must fight the scourge of child domestic labour

More than 17-million children around the world are involved in domestic labour. The recent death of 17-year-old Salome Zacharia in Tanzania highlights their plight

(John McCann/M&G)

You can’t beat discipline into a child

Children displaying aberrant behaviour have often been traumatised and require counselling

Once the Vatican’s third-ranking official, George Pell had been trying to overturn the verdicts and six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys at a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s.(Reuters/Mark Dadswell)

Australia’s Cardinal Pell loses child sex abuse appeal

Pell had been trying to overturn the verdicts and six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s

Once the Vatican’s third-ranking official, George Pell had been trying to overturn the verdicts and six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys at a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s.(Reuters/Mark Dadswell)

Prosecutors insist Pell child sex conviction ‘unimpeachable’

Lawyers for Pell had on Wednesday raised 13 objections to his conviction on five counts of sexual abuse

Cardinal George Pell. (Mark Dadswell/Reuters)

Cardinal Pell appeals ‘impossible’ child sex conviction

Pell is battling guilty verdicts handed down against him in December on five counts of sexually assaulting two choirboys

Barbarin faced long-standing allegations from victims’ groups that he failed to report a priest under his authority to police after learning of abuse which took place in the 1980s and 1990s.

French cardinal convicted over sex abuse cover-up

A court in Lyon ruled that Cardinal Phillip Brown was guilty of failing to report the abuse of a minor between 2014 and 2015.

Once the Vatican’s third-ranking official, George Pell had been trying to overturn the verdicts and six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys at a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s.(Reuters/Mark Dadswell)

Top pope adviser convicted of child sex crimes

​Australian Cardinal George Pell, one of Pope Francis’ closest advisers, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two choirboys

In a class of 30 children 15 will have been abused and, out of those 15 few will have received the care they need

A medical app helps identify abuse of children

Runner-up Winner: Medi-App: Research Project

Germany’s Catholic church apologised last month to thousands of victims of sexual assault by clergy, with Marx insisting that perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Catholic church split over abuse scandal gravity

The Vatican has already warned that in some countries the church is dragging its feet because of cultural difference over what constitutes child abuse

(John McCann/M&G)

Yes, women can be sexual predators

It happens far more frequently than is generally believed, and can psychologically scar men for life

It’s time to take back the tax — by upping the tobacco tax. (Delwyn Verasamy)

Pope calls bishops to ‘child protection’ meeting in February

The Church has been hit by a series of child abuse scandals in recent years

On the isolated occasion of being confronted with the rumour of paedophilia, Magnus Malan defiantly asked: “What is a paedophile?” (Ambrose Peters)

Bird Island child abuse: The truth will set us free

Apartheid’s ministers must account for their crimes and we too need to confront them

In May

Hull septuagenarian sent to prison for preying on Kenyan girls

While on holiday, 72-year-old Keith Morris used his elevated status among villagers to groom young girls

The South African Council for Educators (SACE) has admitted that it has “systemic gaps” that can allow teachers found guilty of serious misconduct and subsequently scrapped from its register to still practice their profession. (John McCann/M&G)

‘Spanking judgement sets a dangerous precedent’

Freedom of Religion SA on Monday said a high court ruling which ordered parents to no longer spank their children would set a dangerous precedent.

Advocate Owen Cook

Principal and team removed from school for “concealing” sexual abuse of pupils

​The Gauteng dpt. of education removed the principal of the Soweto primary school where over 50 pupils were allegedly sexually assaulted by a guard.

Africa in China: Chinese vendors have come under fire for selling videos and photos of African children carrying personalised messages and advertising businesses.

Children exploited in custom videos

Chinese vendors have been selling videos of African children advertising products and sending messages amid criticisms of child exploitation

Saafia February takes some time away from her desk at Newspaper House in Cape Town.

Slice Of Life: ​A killer among us

We think we recognise what a rapist looks like, but the man accused of killing Courtney Pieters seems very decent.