Cape Town car clubs have rallied to show their support for an abused toddler, rescued from a tik den in Eureka Estate.
Residents say 40th Street buzzed with excitement on Tuesday night as more than 50 cars drove in convoy to the home of Debbie van Rensburg, who had found the little girl, to hand over donations for the traumatised tot.
The two-year-old girl was rescued from the house in Craig Street two weeks ago after it was found that she had been repeatedly raped, beaten, burnt and her eyes shut with chemicals.
Her mother’s friend, Ursula Paste, 30, has been arrested and charged with sexual assault and attempted murder, after a witness told police she saw the child being beaten and thrown into dirty bath water.
AID: Debbie van Rensberg with girl, 2. Photo: SUPPLIED
The child’s mother explained that she was robbed, assaulted and thrown out by Paste’s friends, but didn’t go back to fetch her child as she feared for her life.
Mitchells Plain father, Fabian Hendricks, 45, says he was alerted to the Daily Voice article by a far-flung friend in New Zealand, and got a skrik when he read about the girl’s ordeal.
“A friend, Liezel McKeith, alerted us and when I looked at the article, I could not believe that someone had done this, especially as I have a seven-year-old daughter,” he says.
“Various car clubs in Cape Town, including Cape36ers, Dirty 30 Cape Town, E36 society, Rosha Auto, Shaba mags, RGR graffix, Polo 9n Owners, Polo Society, Airvengers, Resistance, Static nation, Krazy Krew among others came out.”
GOODIES: Gifts of toys, clothing and toiletries for meisie. Photo: SUPPLIED
The clubs met at N1 City Mall and drove to Debbie’s home where they handed over clothes, toys, nappies, toiletries and even a pram.
Meanwhile, Paste made her second appearance in the Goodwood Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for a bail hearing.
She has denied abusing the child and her bail hearing will continue on Friday.
The little girl meanwhile is still being treated in hospital.
Debbie adds: “She (Paste) blamed the mother for everything, but we don’t understand as she wasn’t there.
“When I took the child to the hospital, the doctors said the burn marks were three days old.”