Have You Stolen Kisses?

The Sexual Offenses Amendment Act was signed late last year and has made it illegal for people under the age of sixteen to kiss or engage in any sexual behaviour in public.

What is the aim of the law? The National coordinator for Childline South Africa released the following statement: The law reinforces the age of consent . “This is important as there are many teenagers (under sixteen) who are exploited by older people, sometimes even prostituted in situations that they cannot escape from.” So the new law aims to prevent sexual exploitation of children by adults.

Can you be arrested for kissing? No, not if the two of you are of similar age. If you are under the age of sixteen, the age between you and your girlfriend or boyfriend should not be greater than two years.

So go ahead and ‘steal’ More kisses!

by Hanan Barth