KEY POINTS
- Eastern Cape MEC reports two additional similar rape cases in Matatiele.
- Minister Chikunga intends to conduct private school child interviews for identifying additional potential cases.
- SAPS maintains a continuous investigation into the matter and plans to finalize major investigative findings.
Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Bukiwe Fanta confirmed that violent sexual assaults on girls of a comparable age to the 7-year-old Bergview College pupil have recently occurred within the Matatiele area.
Chikunga and Fanta address the issue about ‘Cwecwe’s case
An independent school in Matatiele Eastern Cape named Bergview College became the scene of a reported October rape against the girl who captured national attention after waiting for her transport.
A media briefing occurred in Matatiele on Thursday when Minister of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga announced she would conduct interviews with local children at private institutions for information about the reported incidents.
The investigation results provided evidence in ‘Cwecwe’s case, in that sexually assaulted Cwecwe and investigators believed other instances of abuse might exist.
The department together with other stakeholders planned to conduct child interviews at local schools in order to locate more potential victims who should speak up.
Fanta highlights multiple cases
The case involving Cwecwe in Matatiele is not unique according to Fanta who works with Chikunga. She stated there existed two matching child rape cases involving a 6-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl that happened at the same area while in the same timeframe.
Fanta showed her dissatisfaction toward the delayed justice process while urging law enforcement to arrest the responsible individuals quickly. She emphasized their appeal to the justice system by asking for the arrest to happen quickly because schools were about to start the following week.
Ongoing investigation by SAPS
Fannie Masemola the National Police Commissioner spoke at a portfolio committee meeting to report that Mmantsheke Lekhele major general from the Family Violence Child Protection Sexual Offences (FCS) unit continued collecting statements as he conducted interviews throughout the Eastern Cape.
The public received assurances from Masemola that both provinces and SAPS were taking all required actions to pursue justice for the victims.
