Silent wounds of the family

Abstract

In many social orders of the world the broken family core is an unfortunate and common reality, leading to an ever growing presence of homeless children, mothers, or fathers. South Africa is not a stranger to this phenomenon, despite the fact that it is viewed as a country with one of the most progressive constitutions regarding gender equality. Daily shocking statistics show a lack of family values, guidance, and respect for the human race, further emphasising a society where people and families feel no restraint in harming a child, woman or man. The South African society as a whole is losing touch with itself and government is not realizing the impact of their conveyed message of disregard, when “for every 400 rapes reported last year - 17 became official cases, 1 perpetrator was convicted and for every perpetrator convicted, 1 case docket was lost or sold.” (Internet: Access 13 February) This type of social degradation affects us all when the offenders and victims become the next string in our complicated lattice of a social fabric. If one is to see the family dynamic and children as a whole as being bound to us through the familial concept of Ubuntu, creating the link between social and family factors affecting the population as a whole, then we are all responsible in the struggle against the all too typical cycle.