The Eastern Cape Office hosted an outreach programme focused on the rights of children at Gonya J.SS in Ngqamakwe . During this session yesterday, the office reviewed complaints from the Mqanduli Advise Centre on various issues including sexual violence, abuse, and lack of assistance in acquiring necessary documentation for children such as birth certificates. Participants also raised the continuous practice of early child marriage and ukuthwala which results in children school drop outs as these young brides have to take up hike responsibilities despite their young age. Additionally, due to poverty, the session revealed that in some homes, parents do not discourage dating between their young children with elderly men as a means of provision for the home, stating that these relationships are sometimes encouraged provided that the men provide for the family. Adv Msekelwa of the National Prosecuting Authority reported that rape cases against children are at an alarming rate, and that out of six rape cases at the regional court, five were of children and one case was of a 78 year elderly women. The Commission was joined by the South African Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid South, Sonke Gender Justice, Office of the Public Protector South Africa, National Prosecuting Authority and the Eastern Cape Premier Office as these stakeholders all addressed and heard from community members.