A little girl continues to endure to the trauma of seeing the man who repeatedly raped her roaming the streets in her neighbourhood.
The 10 year-old girl from rural Ga-Matlala in was reluctant to tell her family about the ordeal because the alleged perpetrator threatened to kill her and her twin sister.
The accused, aged 23 is a cattle herder who lives on the same street with the victim.
According to the girl’s mother, the sexual assault started last year and the traumatic experience has left the Grade Five learner physically and emotional frail.
The victim, whose identity cannot be disclosed because she is a minor started behaving strangely until her elder sister asked her what had happened as she was struggling to walk.
Her mother, who also cannot be identified to protect the identity of her daughter, said her child initially lied by saying she tripped and landed on a rock and sustained injuries on her private parts.
She said “After noticing that she was struggling to walk, we took her to the clinic. When nurses asked her if she was raped, she denied. However, she later confided in her sister on condition she did not tell anyone or the police.
That’s when she told her sister that the accused took her to his place where he raped her several times. She said every time she wanted to scream, the accused threatened her with a knife and that he will also kill her twin sister.”
However, she later broke the silence and was taken to hospital where it was confirmed that she was raped.
The accused was temporarily arrested and appeared in court but was released on free bail due to lack of evidence.
The mother said “I was shocked to see this man roaming the streets. My child can’t hide her fear anymore.”
An investigating officer who refused to be named because he is not police spokesperson confirmed that the accused was arrested and appeared in court.
He said “The suspect was released on free bail due to lack of evidence. However, our investigations will continue until the case is solved.”
Mphatheni Modiba, a social worker at Child Welfare South Africa said “We always encourage mothers and child minders to be vigilant when their kids start acting strangely. Such behavioral change can have dire consequences.”