NGCOBO J appointment of an intermediary where the state does not raise the issue.100 If necessary, the presiding judicial officer must initiate an enquiry into the desirability of appointing an intermediary. [113] What must be stressed here are two points already made: first, that the provisions of sections 170A(1) and 170A(3) were enacted to protect the child from the stress and trauma that may arise from testifying in court. The second is that section 28(2) is an injunction to courts to apply the principle that the best interests of the child are of paramount importance in all matters concerning the child. It is incumbent upon all those who are responsible for the administration of justice to apply the principles of our criminal law and criminal procedure so as to protect child complainants in sexual offence cases from secondary trauma that may arise from testifying in court. Judicial officers are therefore obliged to apply the best interests principle by considering how the child’s rights and interests are, or will be, affected by allowing the child complainant in a sexual offence case to testify without the aid of the intermediary. It follows from this, therefore, that where the prosecutor does not raise the matter, the judicial officer must, of his or her own accord, raise the need for an intermediary to assist the child complainant in a sexual offence case in giving his or her testimony.101 [114] Properly construed, therefore, section 170A(1) read with section 170A(3) contemplates that in every trial in which a child is to testify, the court will enquire into 100 Above n 63. 101 According to para 19(e) of the Guidelines, a court is obliged to draw the attention of the parent or guardian of the child victim to the availability of protective measures. 60