Kimberley - The six-week-old baby taken from her bedroom and brutally raped in a nearby shack in the poverty-stricken township of Galeshewe, outside Kimberley, was so traumatised that doctors could not examine her until she was put under anaesthetic.
There has been horrified reaction from all over the country and President Jacob Zuma said it “was despicable in the extreme” and particularly disturbing as it has taken place during 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children.
“Something is seriously wrong, and it is good that society has not lost its sense of shock,” he said.
Gynaecologist Dr Jan van Soest, part of a seven-person team that operated for two hours to save the baby, said in an interview on Friday that although it was very soon after the surgery, they expected the child would recover physically, and would one day be able to bear children of her own.
The baby’s 24-year-old uncle appeared in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of rape and attempted murder. Although he was warned that the charges against him were very serious, the young man turned down the help of legal aid.
“I am sharp. I will defend myself,” he said when magistrate Kubashnie Padayachee warned him of the seriousness of the charges. He didn’t reply to any of her further questions.
State prosecutor Anele Kohlani, opposing bail, pointed out that this was a Schedule Six offence and that the uncle was facing charges of rape and stabbing a policeman.
Padayachee ruled that the man, who may not be named as he is related to the victim, will remain behind bars until his next appearance on December 12, when she will consider a formal application for bail.
The baby had sustained extensive trauma to the inside and outside of her genitals, as well as bruising and severe tearing, but there was no internal abdominal trauma.
Her perineum was also torn and needed to be built back up.
She will return to theatre next week for further examination under anaesthetic. If there are no complications, it is likely she will be discharged shortly afterwards.
“Although she was on heavy pain medication after the surgery, she is only receiving oral medication now and is stable. She is drinking from her mother and urinating normally. We are happy with her progress so far,” Van Soest said.
He said the attack was the worst he had ever seen involving such a young child.
“We tried to repair the damage so that her anatomy is back to normal, but we will only know in six months time how successful the operation was.
The suspect, it emerged, had himself been discharged from hospital just hours before the rape of the infant.
According to a family member, he had threatened patrons at a jazz club with a knife about two weeks earlier. He resisted arrest and allegedly stabbed a police officer, before being shot twice.
Independent on Saturday