Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains one of the most pressing concerns affecting children’s safety and well-being in South Africa. This study explored parents’ perceptions of their roles in creating enabling spaces for children to identify and report inappropriate sexual advances. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten parents selected through purposive sampling. The data were analysed thematically to identify patterns in parenting practices, communication styles, and socio-cultural factors influencing children’s disclosure of abuse.
The findings revealed that while parents acknowledged their responsibility in protecting children, many faced barriers such as cultural taboos, discomfort discussing sexuality, and limited knowledge about how to approach sensitive topics. Themes that emerged included parenting style and communication approach, educating children about safety and boundaries, barriers to open dialogue about sexuality and abuse, creating enabling spaces for disclosure, and societal and cultural influences on reporting. Participants emphasized that calm, respectful communication and emotional availability foster children’s trust, whereas harsh or judgmental responses discourage openness. Furthermore, deep-rooted cultural beliefs, gendered expectations, and lack of parental training were found to hinder effective prevention and reporting practices.
The study concludes that empowering parents through community-based education, awareness programs, and culturally sensitive interventions is essential to strengthen child protection and encourage early reporting of sexual abuse. It recommends that future initiatives promote open dialogue, parental self-awareness, and collaboration between families, schools, and community organizations to build safer environments for all children.