Cape Town - A Somerset West mother of a 3-year-old child who was raped and brutally sodomised, allegedly by the husband of a nursery school owner in Strand, has vowed to fight for justice as the man is yet to be arrested.
Three months after the ordeal, the crèche, Liefielyfie Babasorg, which is supposed to care for infants and toddlers is continuing to operate illegally despite being found unregistered and three more parents coming forward when, upon inspection, they also found that their children were sexually abused.
Speaking to the Cape Times on Thursday the mother said the justice system was not only failing her child but other children who are allegedly at risk as no action has been taken against the alleged rapist, and he apparently lives on the same premises at the crèche.
“The man is roaming around free while my child has been on antibiotics due to infection and was diagnosed by a doctor as one of the worst cases of anal rape they have seen.
“She is a happy and kind child but now she’s very aggressive.
“At her new school her teachers had to remove her on top of a boy she was choking.
“She’s also aggressive towards herself one time I found her hitting her head against the wall.
“I feel like I failed as a mother to protect her. Hopefully the therapy she is going through will help her,” she said.
The mother said she discovered that her daughter was sexually assaulted after she gave her an energy drink and she placed it by her private part and claimed it won’t fit.
“This was an alarm for me. I then asked her a question which was where she talked about the husband hurting her inside the house. I immediately sent her to our family doctor who found she had an infection and also went an NGO which assist with a rape kit. A doctor who was with the NGO found the damage at the anal area and the scars. I was told it was a chroninc anal panetration. Then reported the matter to police. However three months later the man has not been arrested and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit Commander either doesn’t answer my calls or says he will call be back and doesn’t. I am at wits because I was informed the man was not even taken for questioning. The case is handled by the Khayelitsha police because the Strand where the case was lodged doesn’t have this unit. The parents of the other child ages 13 months and I think two years seem to have given up but I won’t. I can’t,” she said.
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the Khayelitsha FCS Unit was following up on available information in the matter.
“The investigation into the matter is in a sensitive stage and since the victim is a minor, this office will not divulge any information that might derail the investigation , and also to protect the minor.
“We request that you allow the investigating officer to complete his investigation unhindered by external influences. The investigating team will present their findings to the Senior State Prosecutor for a decision,” said Swartbooi.
He said the family members must arrange a meeting with the commander of the unit that is investigating their case to discuss their concerns.
The Cape Times made numerous calls to Liefielyfie Babasorg to no avail.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development’s head of communication Esther Lewis referred questions to the WCED saying the ECD function has migrated from their department to Basic Education from April 1.
WCED’s spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said:“Based on the findings of the investigations a Notice of Enforcement in terms of S.85(1)(a)(i) of the Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005 was issued against the partial care facility to close their doors and stop further operations.
“Liefielyfie Babycare did not appeal the findings and sanction from the department which means they should not be open and operating.
“Parents of the children were provided with a letter notifying them of the closure of the facility and requesting them to make alternate arrangements for partial care services for their children.
“The safety and protection of children within partial care facilities remain paramount to the Department.
“The facility was closed and operated illegally.
“Parents are aware of the closure status of the facility and still ignore findings of the department by enrolling their children at a facility that operates illegally.”
Cape Times