Melkbosstrand parents are in an uproar after the parents of a three-year-old child laid a charge that she had been sexually assaulted in a creche.
A forensic surgeon who examined the girl found that an object had been inserted into her vagina, which can constitute rape under the Sexual Offences Act.
Police are investigating the case, as well as the suspected sexual assault of two other toddlers.
Steven Otter, a spokesman for the provincial Department of Social Development, told Weekend Argus police suspected a three-year-old boy at the crèche might be responsible. But Melkbosstrand police station commander Ronita van der Toorn would not confirm this, saying the investigation was “sensitive”.
The girl’s parents believe all the signs of a sexual assault are there. Her behaviour included nightmares, distrust of people, and a refusal to sleep alone or go to school. She also pulls her hair out.
News of the alleged rapes has upset the community. The school was forced to call a meeting with parents on Thursday – the second meeting in less than a week.
At the meeting, Melkbosstrand police, including Van der Toorn, said that a suspect had yet to be identified. And they were reluctant to answer parents’ questions about the details of the investigation.
Some parents pledged their support for the creche, but most just wanted answers and reassurance that their children were safe.
In an email response to questions, the owner and principal said there was no evidence to suggest the incidents took place on her premises.
They had a top-notch surveillance system, which included a fingerprint-controlled access system at the gate; 13 hi-tech cameras which covered the play area, entrance and corridors; and a number plate-recognition system on the road approaching the school.
However, in light of the allegations, they were considering beefing up their security measures even further.
The principal, speaking at the meeting about toddlers’ natural curiosity, said they could not control the sexual development of children.
“In every playschool, at some point, there’s a girl or boy who’s more curious than others. Our standard procedure is to phone the parents and most times we get the parents’ full support.”
The parents of the three-year-old said their daughter had begun behaving strangely in February and started refusing to go to the crèche. In March, she told her mother what had happened to her.
“We don’t want to get caught up in the mudslinging that’s going on. We want to create awareness among parents in general,” said her father. “If your child shows signs that something is wrong, pay attention; it means something is wrong.”
Meanwhile, Otter said the school was unregistered because it had failed to re-register in compliance with the Children’s Act. “The crèche complies with the law in almost every way, but they were apparently unaware they were supposed to renew their registration,” he said.
“We’ve decided to assist the creche to get registered pending the outcome of the investigation, which the department is watching very closely.”
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