Kimberley - A Kimberley mother blames herself after her husband allegedly fathered two children with their eldest daughter and also raped the youngest one.
Speaking to the media for the first time about the daily trauma her family endured at the hands of the man who was supposed to protect them, the woman said on Tuesday that she was still haunted by the memories of her husband raping the children.
“I can still see him sneaking into the bed where my daughters were sleeping and forcing himself on both of them.
“At times he would alternate the girls, while the other would wait in silence, knowing that she is next,” the mother said. I sat there in the dark… watching my husband raping my children.”
Her husband, who is charged with incest and rape, will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
At the same time, the accused’s eldest daughter and her two children will be taken to Bloemfontein for paternity tests to prove that her father impregnated her.
It is alleged that the man, who is being held in police custody, sexually abused his two daughters for more than 10 years and one his daughters apparently gave birth to three of his children.
One of the children died.
Spokesman for the Free State National Prosecuting Authority, Phaladi Shuping, on Tuesday stated that the accused was arrested in April 2013 and was denied bail after he appeared in the Boshof Magistrate’s Court.
“We do not have the docket yet as the accused will be appearing for the first time in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court. The court is still waiting for the results of the paternity tests.”
The Roodepan girls are primary school dropouts and have no skills.
It is alleged their father’s alleged reign of terror prevented their mother from reporting any abuse, but the eldest daughter, 22, eventually managed to report the matter to a community leader earlier this year.
“I hate him and will never forgive him for violating my daughters and stealing their childhood. He would often assault me with a sjambok, which he made himself, when I tried to stand up for my girls,” the mother said.
She added that he held them hostage because he monitored their movements within the area, hence she could not share the nightmare.
“He would escort the girls to collect water from a nearby tap and threatened to kill them should they speak to anyone.
“My 26-year-old daughter only attended school up to Grade Four. Her 22-year-old sister has never been to school,” the mother added.
“Although my husband did not deny fathering the two children, aged three and four, with our eldest daughter, I refused that the children be given away for adoption.
“I accepted the young ones as my own and would never turn my back on them,” she said.
She added that she will support her daughters throughout the court case and hopes that her husband suffers the consequences for imprisoning them in their own home.
“He must experience the hardship and pain he brought into our lives.”
The 22-year-old, who was only 15 when her father started molesting her, also spoke about her gruelling ordeal.
“I don’t blame my mother for not being able to protect us from our wicked father.
“He was never a father but a monster and we often hoped that he would die,” the daughter said.
“Shame and fear kept us from seeking help because even his sister, who is my aunt, was aware of his horrendous acts, but kept quiet.
“My father robbed me of the experience of being a child. He treated me, first as his sex slave then as his daughter. I hate him and don’t wish to see him. To me he is dead and I want him to rot in jail.”
She pointed out that although they are relieved that a case has been opened and he was arrested, they would never be a normal family again because what he did to them would stay in their minds for the rest of their lives.
“We are not receiving any counselling at the moment. We stay indoors because neighbours are asking us questions about how we live at home,” she said.
“I wish we could find another house far away from Roodepan and probably start a new life away from the shame.
“Although we are free because he is in jail, the nightmares and living in this shanty still haunt us.
“God has granted us a second chance and my biggest dream is to go to school and become a police officer to arrest all those who molest and rape their children.”
According to the Media Liaison Officer for the Ministry of Social Development, Lesego Pule, a social worker has been assigned to the case, and is currently doing an assessment on the family.
“Her report will be completed before the end of this week. It is only after this report, that the department would be in a position to tell what sort of help will be provided. We can confirm though, that the two daughters will receive therapy and whatever help the report identifies as being necessary.”
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