In a latest case, the clinic has been dealing with the rape of three boys aged nine, 11 and 12, by a homosexual man in Duduza.
Taruva says the man took the boys into his home, showed them child pornographic films, and then raped each of them as they watched in horror.
In South Africa child pornography is illegal and is punishable by fines and up to 10 years imprisonment.
According to Taruva, child pornographic cases in the East Rand are slowly increasing.
He says the motive of adult perpetrators of child pornography is purely sexual gratification.
“Children are lured with money and gifts and they want to remain loyal to the offender, so emphasis is on secrecy. The perpertrator is usually someone the child knows and trusts,” he says.
Taruva says children don’t come forward to disclose what has happened, because they feel ashamed, have feelings of guilt, are afraid of their perpetrator and blame themselves.
However, he says that parents can play a major role in protecting their child from being a victim of child pornography by teaching them to be cyber smart.
“Parents must train their children to recognise potential dangers and know how to avoid threatening situations. They must also talk to their children about sexual victimisation, the Internet and online chat rooms.
“Pornography is easily accessible, so spend time with your children when they are online, monitor chat rooms they access, and make sure their computer is in a room used by the family,” he adds.
Taruva also emphasises that it is important for parents to install filtering software on their children’s computers.
The Kidz Clinic is involved in school talks teaching children to protect themselves from being victims of child pornography, community awareness programmes along with NGO’s and churches, as well as marches to raise awareness on child pornography.
