The mother of a two-year-old girl who was raped in a drug den claims the homeowner and skollies assaulted her, threw her out and kept her child.
“Hulle wou my kind se Sassa geld hê,” the 25-year-old woman told the Daily Voice on Thursday.
She denies that she had abandoned her child and says she is not a drug addict.
The little girl was rescued from a house in Eureka Estate last week and one of her alleged abusers was arrested.
The tot was found by resident Debbie van Rensburg on 20 February, and doctors confirmed she had been repeatedly raped.
The child’s genitals were also burnt, her hair cut and her tiny body bitten.
According to a witness, the suspect, Ursula Paste, 30, allowed male druggies to sexually abuse the child and also used chemicals to shut the toddler’s eyes.
The little girl was taken to Karl Bremer Hospital where she is currently recovering.
Her mother claims she visited Ursula’s Craig Street home on 1 February and got a skrik to find men smoking drugs inside the house.
“I know Ursula through her family, but I didn’t know her father had died,” says the woman, who may not be named.
“I went to visit and then I saw the jongens smoking drugs in the house, en die plek is nou ’n pella pos.
“When I wanted to leave, Ursula and another woman attacked me with a broom and took my daughter. My child cried and they cut off both our hair.”
She says she was moered until she was nearly flou.
“Daar was ’n klomp gangsters in die huis en almal het aan gegaan. Hulle was almal gedrug.
“They went through my stuff and took out my ID and Sassa cards and then they threw me out.
“They said if I go to the police they will kill me.
“They kept my child and I went to my sister’s house.
“Ek het my kind gemis maar ek was bang want hulle is besig met agge [28s gangsters].
“They wanted my child’s Sassa money.”
‘ABUSER’: Ursula Paste. PHOTO: MONIQUE DUVAL
The woman says while the story of her daughter’s torture went viral on social media, she had no idea what was happening until she was approached by Ursula’s sister.
“Her sister saw me in the road and told me they were looking for me and I must go to Bellville Police Station to give a witness statement,” says the mom.
“They wanted me to tell police that Ursula did not hurt my child.”
She ran to Debbie’s home and got a skrik when she read the story in the Daily Voice.
“Yoh, ek het niks van die goed geweet nie. I didn’t realise Ursula was like that.
“I am scared, she must stay in jail, and I’m going to the police to give a statement.”
Ursula appeared in the Goodwood Magistrates’ Court this week where she was charged with sexual assault and attempted murder.
The case was postponed to 5 March.
DONATONS: Gifts for the child. PHOTO: MONIQUE DUVAL.
Meanwhile, the Daily Voice has been inundated with calls and emails from readers wanting to donate to the little girl. “I have been contacted by so many people who have offered to help,” says Debbie.
“Some gave money and others gave nappies, clothes and toys.
“The child is recovering well, but doctors say she will be in hospital for a long time.
“We are going back to court next week and are collecting signatures for the petition to call for bail for Ursula to be denied.”