Johannesburg - On Monday The Star published a story following our discovery of a web of paedophilia at a daycare centre in Tshepisong, Krugersdorp.
On Sunday, the family of a 4-year-old girl confirmed to The Star that their child was raped by the son of the daycare centre owner who lives at the property.
The Star was also informed by neighbours that virginity testing on children had happened at the centre without the consent of parents.
An alleged rapist is still at large and has still not been arrested.
On arrival at the centre on Monday, The Star was met by two neighbours who claimed that the owner’s older son had also attempted to rape one of the neighbours. A case was opened but later dropped. The victim, who identified herself as Ntsoaki, confirmed opening the case.
As the Star’s team camped outside the centre to take pictures and gain comment from the owner, she refused to come out of her gate.
On the phone, she said: “I was not there when the thing happened so I don’t know why your newspaper is here. The community gave me options, they said I must send my son away or shut down my creche. I sent my son away. I’m still waiting for police tests.”
The nightmare started on August 29 when the grandchild (who The Star has seen) went to play with friends at the house opposite her’s, where the centre is run, and was later raped.
The granny says when the child returned from the neighbour’s home she began to act strangely and locked herself in the bathroom. She said the child was crying because her genitals were painful.
Police spokesperson Solomon Sibiya told The Star that police were investigating the matter. He said the issue was sensitive because it involved children and the children who were there when the alleged rape happened would be asked to make statements.
POWA, a women’s rights NGO, and the Gauteng Department of Social Development called The Star for details with the department saying it was sending social workers to intervene and look into shutting down the centre on Monday.
The Star, POWA, the family and the police are set to meet on Wednesday.
The department has thanked The Star for the expose.
The Star