Calls to help preserve rights of mentally challenged woman

THE South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Department of Social Development are being called in to assess and investigate the alleged continuous sexual abuse and neglect of a 23-yearold Riebeek Kasteel woman.

Former Atlantis ward councillor Barbara Rass, who runs a shelter for abused women and children in the area, was approached to assist the family who were preparing to open a case with the police after the woman was allegedly raped in the bush by a relative.

The woman has the mental capacity of a minor and has been disabled since the age of 5 after suffering from tuberculosis meningitis.

The child’s mother, 43, who cannot be identified, works on a farm to provide for her family together with the help of her husband. They have five children.

“She was 5-and-a-half when the first incident occurred. We reported the matter to the police and nothing happened with the case. We opened it the first time at Riebeek West police station and it was an unknown person,” the mother said.

She detailed the alleged recent attack on her daughter.

“Now with this second incident, it is an uncle who is married into the family. A week after the incident happened, she opened up to me and even told me the date. She even showed me the underwear.

“He apparently paid her R10. He was off from work that day and that is when he did these things to her.

“It was on a Wednesday and he told her they would be collecting wood in the bush and that his son would be accompanying them. But the son never went with and that is where it happened, in the bush.”

The mother added that they had a meeting with the man and his wife, where admitted what he had done.

“The police disappointed us the first time and we now even called on the church to get involved.”

The family has since indicated they will be opening a case after they had been provided with assistance from Rass.

The alleged suspect’s wife said she was also aware of the incident.

Rass said they were appealing for the various departments to assist the family.

“What we have witnessed is unacceptable. There are no structures in this community, that is why these incidents happen. We are on a journey to the 16 days of activism and to me, the 16 days is a myth to what we witness today, a disabled child that was repeatedly raped.

“The system failed her because the police did not take the first case seriously,” said Rass.

Zena Nair, of the SAHRC, said they would look into the matter.

“The contents will be perused and considered in order to determine the assistance the commission can give,” she said.

Spokesperson for the MEC of Social Development, Sharna Fernandez, Joshua Chigome, said they would also investigate the matter.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said their offices were well-equipped to deal with cases of this nature.