The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma has ordered for the arrest of two suspects who practically undermined government’s efforts in the fight against gender based violence, more so during the period of Child Protection Week and Youth Month. The General has again reiterated his call for the society to stand up against Gender-Based-Violence. This comes after incidents where two teenage girls were allegedly raped in seperate incidents which occurred at White River and Masoyi respectively and an additional child abandonment incident which was reported at Vosman near Witbank.
In the White River incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 02 June 2020, information received indicates that the young girl was walking home from a fuel station when she was approached by two suspects, who then forcefully dragged her to a nearby bush. They then threatened to harm her, ordered her to undress herself, gang raped her and absconded from the scene thereafter.
The matter was immediately reported to the police and a case of rape was opened, the girl was further taken to a healthcare facility for medical examination. Meanwhile, a manhunt for the two suspects has been launched.
In the second incident which occurred at Masoyi on Friday 29 May 2020, a 13-year-old girl paid her father a visit at his residential place. Later on that evening he called her to his bedroom whilst she was busy preparing food for them (father and siblings). When she entered the bedroom, she found him as well as her stepmother inside and instructed her (daughter) to take off her clothes but she refused and instead went back to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner.
The man went outside and called her again, when she stepped outside he forcefully grabbed her, tore off her clothes and forcefully raped her. She relayed the story to her aunt later on Monday, 01 June 2020 and further mentioned to her aunt that her father had raped her before. She further indicated that during December 2019, her father forcefully raped her, begged her not to tell anyone and promised to buy her a cell phone as well as a pair of shoes. The matter was reported to police and a case of rape was opened and is being investigated. The 37-year-old man (father) was arrested by police and is due to appear at Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 08 June 2020.
Another sad incident involving a child was reported in Vosman area near Witbank. According to the report, on the evening of Monday, 01 June 2020, a 47-year-old woman was woken up by noise of an infant who was crying bitterly. This crying sound continued for a while prompting her to wake her husband and both went to investigate where they discovered an infant wrapped in a towel outside the door. They tried to look around to see if possibly they can spot the person who left the baby but with no success and further enquired from the neighbours as well but no positive feedback.
The matter was eventually reported to the police on Tuesday, 02 June 2020 and a case of child neglect was opened. The police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect who has abandoned the child.
General Zuma expressed his dismay at these disheartening and callous acts. “These heartless suspects continue to prey on vulnerable women and children regardless of hefty sentences that are being handed down to them by our courts. This situation reflects a deep underlying problem of a lack of morals in our society. We really plead the public, especially the Religious Fraternity, Traditional Leadership, and Opinion leaders to join hands with us in addressing this challenge, especially now that restrictions have been relaxed for the Faith-Based Organizations to continue to revive the moral fibre of our society which appears to have degenerated, “he said.
Police appeal to anyone who may have information regarding the suspects who raped the young girl in White River to please contact Detective Constable Sifiso Maseko on 0764123601 or White river SAPS on 013-7500888. As well as anyone who has information regarding the Vosman case to contact Detective Constable Londiwe Patricia Mathibela on 0824942174. Alternatively, members of the public can call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111. Information may also be communicated via MySAPSApp. All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence and callers may remain anonymous.
Source: South African Police Service