He remains severely traumatised. He is unable to have normal bowel movements because of his injuries, he has recurring nightmares and has lost concentration at school.

Bouwer said: "Too many children are raised in circumstances that are not conducive to healthy development - they are often hungry or cold, they witness and are on the receiving end of violence in their homes, schools and communities.

"They are exposed to adult sexuality in overcrowded living conditions. They see what the adults are doing and they think this is the way things are - children learn what they live."

"Boys are almost as vulnerable (as girls), but there is no recourse for boys who are abused. Boys get laughed at and told they are lucky if they have been abused by an older woman. There is a lack of understanding and programmes to deal with the abused boy."

Waterhouse said: "The age of the perpetrator does not change the harm done to the victim, but it should change the way we treat the perpetrator.

"We fail these children (who rape). They are victimised and suddenly they are seen when they do something bad. This reinforces the idea that they will get attention when they do something wrong."

This is cache, read story here