SHE was only nine years old when she was gang raped in 2022.
Three years later, the former primary school pupil, now 12 years old, was reminded of that harrowing ordeal when last month she was raped, with little to no intervention to help the child, according to child rights activists.
Her story comes at a time the country was reeling from the rape of a 7-year-old Bergview College pupil allegedly on the school premises while waiting for her school transport in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.
The Witzenberg Justice Coalition, a women-led movement in the area, said the system had failed the 12-year-old who had been in foster care, following the first incident.
In an email sent to Social Development MEC, Jaco Londt and others on April 1, WSJ’s Naomi Betana wrote: “We really feel that the current situation for this 12-year-old could have been much different. Being in foster care this is definitely of great concern because it is evident the social worker on record did not pick this up. If only (authorities) and even the Department of Education wanted to help this child since the gang rape in December 2022, her life would have been different. The fostercare mother confirms she even reached out to the primary school when she noticed that her school work is not the same anymore - they apparently argued that they could not get involved because the rape case happened (during) the school holidays and not during the school hours.
“If this was a rich child from Gerika, FD Conradie or Charlie Hofmeyer in Ceres, all the above departments would have done their level best to support this child and the family.
The child, who was recently hospitalised, had allegedly collapsed in a shack that was not her home and was rushed to hospital after the ambulance was called.
“(She) was admitted (to hospital) last week Sunday already and we were informed she does not want to talk with people. Shockingly she started talking with our GBV first responder on 29 March. On 30 March…we handed over the notes to FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences unit) and still nothing happened. We spoke with the foster care parent, apparently until now she is still waiting for the social worker to pick her up on Vredebes for some sort of consultation. WJC got involved in the life of this child when she had her first gang rape in December 2022. We know how we had to fight for services and we can also put on record, no adequate services were provided.”
Asked about what interventions were made to help the child, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said the incidents were not related to the school.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said: “The two alleged incidents are not related to the school. In the first case, the incident happened during the school holidays. The school was only made aware after she returned and the learner was provided with support from the school psychologist and district support teams. The learner stopped attending school, enquiries were made with the parents, but despite efforts the learner did not return, and the learner was deregistered as per the SA Schools Act.
“In 2024, the parent asked for the learner to be enrolled again and the school admitted the learner. The learner only attended school for a short period and was thereafter absent again. The school is not involved in the alleged second incident as the incident did not occur at school, nor is the child currently attending the school. The WCED has made enquiries and is informed that the matter is receiving attention by social workers with regards to the safety and care of the child and the reintegration of the child back in a school environment.”
When first approached for comment, the DSD would only say that this was not one of their cases but instead one of the organisations they funded, the ACVV.
However in a general statement issued after questions were sent, the department confirmed that they were finding the child a place of safety.
“DSD social workers had previously worked with the child in 2022, before her case file was transferred to the respective NGO. We will continue to closely monitor the case. The organisation has provided us with a report detailing the various interventions it has implemented since February 2023 to support the child. We cannot divulge any further details. The department has also worked on finding a suitable place of safety for the child where she can receive further support services. The placement is ready but will eventually be determined by a court.”
ACVV’s Nicolette van der Walt said: “I can confirm that several interventions were implemented since February 2023 when the case came to ACVV Ceres’ attention in terms of counselling by the ACVV’s social worker, assistance to find suitable school placement, assistance to the biological family, assistance to enrol her in support programs, etc. Unfortunately the child does have some intellectual challenges but we are currently looking at securing alternative placement in order to ensure her safety.”
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said the matter was still under investigation with no new developments to report.
Cape Times