Disturbing Rise in Sexual Violence: Erongo Reports 284 Rape Cases Since 2021

From 2021 to the present, the Erongo region has witnessed a concerning surge in reported cases of sexual violence, with a total of 284 rape cases documented among the broader 1,374 incidents of gender-based violence. This unsettling figure averages more than one rape case reported each day. Additionally, child abuse cases have reached a distressing total of 410 during the same period.
These alarming statistics were brought to light by Audrey !Gaes, the head of social workers in the Erongo region, during a stakeholders meeting with the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development, and family affairs.