Cape Town - Rape cases in Grassy Park - the most recent of which involved children - has residents on edge and has sparked protest action by primary school pupils.
The most recent incident involved a primary school pupil who was allegedly picked up by a man in a bakkie and raped. The girl was reportedly found with her skirt lifted and her shirt unbuttoned.
Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut confirmed a suspect had been arrested and that he appeared in court last Monday on a charge of indecent assault.
The suspect has since been released on bail.
On January 24, a 17-year-old pupil from a high school was abducted and gang-raped. She had been on her way to school when she was abducted in 8th Avenue, taken to an unknown location and raped by three unknown suspects in a black Toyota Tazz.
It is alleged that a rag soaked in a chemical substance was used to cover her mouth and her nose before she was shoved into the car.
She was dropped off near the school and found by a staff member.
Traut confirmed the two incidents. He said police were investigating both cases.
The incidents have sparked an outcry from local pupils.
On Friday morning, grades 5 to 7 at Fairview Primary staged a picket on a busy road in Grassy Park, holding aloft placards which read: “Where is the justice - stop rape now!” and “Real men don’t rape, stop rape abuse!”
Fairview Primary School principal Aubrey De Wet said the school wanted to create awareness around the issue: “Especially for the boys… we want to show the boys it’s not acceptable.”
De Wet said the children at his school were taught to “speak up” about everything.
Teacher Rufqa Allie said the children were affected because their friends, neighbours and peers were becoming victims.
“They definitely understand(rape). It’s so rife among them, the recent incident - it was the neighbour of one of the children in my class, it affects them,” Allie said.
Phillip Bam, Grassy Park Community Policing Forum chairman, said he was with the police two weeks ago when they raided premises where a group of men had been drinking.
He said police found two young girls - one of whom was 15 - who had been drinking alcohol with the men.
“It’s very disconcerting, there’s such a lot happening to youngsters, and you wonder: do parents know where their children are?”
Cape Argus