Raped by 10 but no help for girl, 13

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File photo

Published Nov 21, 2016

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Cape Town - A teenage girl allegedly gang-raped by 10 men has not received counselling from police or the Social Development Department since the incident was reported six days ago, her family says.

The 13-year-old does not attend school and is being raised by her pensioner grandmother in a dilapidated RDP house in Samora Machel, Nyanga.

Her mother died a few years ago and her father abandoned her when she was young, her grandmother said.

It emerged during the appearance of seven suspects at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court that the girl was allegedly abducted at gunpoint by a man at about 8pm on November 11. He took her to a shack, which was occupied by nine other men, where she was repeatedly raped by them.

She was then taken to another shack and allegedly raped again.

Her family says the girl was released on the fourth day, which is contrary to what prosecutor Nangamso Matta told the court. Police had also said in a statement last week that she was abducted for one night.

Her family said she did not tell them where she was or what happened until she complained of stomach pains. They believed she was staying with other relatives during that weekend.

An ambulance was called on Tuesday and paramedics found out she had been raped. She then went to the police to lay a criminal charge.

Seven of the 10 men were arrested.

“She has not received any counselling and you can see she is not herself any more. She has bad dreams at night and is not coping well,” said a family member.

“A social worker should have visited the house to speak to her and find a suitable home for her. She stopped going to school and her grandmother is unable to look after her.”

Sihle Ngobese, spokesperson for Social Development MEC Albert Fritz, had not responded to questions by deadline.

The police also did not respond to questions about counselling for the girl.

Community leader Sithandiwe Dingana said the teenager had not wanted to report the rape because she was threatened with death by the alleged perpetrators.

“We convinced her to tell the police. She spoke out and she knows her attackers,” said Dingana.

In court on Friday, magistrate Goolam Bawa told the seven accused: “This is an extremely serious charge, given that in the event of a conviction one will be sentenced to life imprisonment.”

The case was postponed until Friday.

Cape Times

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