Protesters took to the Bo-Kaap streets on Thursday, October 22 to show their support for a young woman who has alleged that she suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of her grandfather.
In an explosive video titled “Exposing Pedophilia by Community Leaders in Cape Town”, the woman, in her 20s, details disturbing sexual encounters initiated by her grandfather, and also alleged that his twin brother did the same to young girls in the Bo-Kaap.
She was initially hesitant to release the video, as she says this is not the first time she has spoken out about it – the previous times she tried to bring it up, she was harshly silenced and told to “let it go”.
Bo-Kaap residents showed up in their numbers to support the woman. They met at the Hilton Hotel and marched through Bo-Kaap and to the home of one of the accused. They are calling for an end to patriarchy and for the silence around gender-based violence to be broken.
Bo Kaap residents have started gathering for a silent picket against gender-based violence. This follows the disclosure of alleged abuse by two highly regarded former principals in the community. Residents say they want the men to be held accountable for their actions. pic.twitter.com/1ZLYAfRFZs
— Voice of the Cape (@VOCfm) October 22, 2020
The director of the Women’s legal Centre and Bo-kaap resident Sehaam Samaai says that she’s tired #GBV . Samaai was speaking in Wale this evening at a protest against an elderly former principal, community worker and prominent figure who sexually assaulted his granddaughter. pic.twitter.com/fmfksCdRmw
— Wardāh Wilkinson (@WardahWilkinson) October 22, 2020
In a statement released on Thursday, the Bo-Kaap Ratespayer’s Association voiced it’s support for the young woman, saying it will not allow her voice to be silenced.
“We will be removing the alleged perpetrators from all positions they are currently serving in and ask the community to allow the law to take its course,” it said.
One of the men accused has also been suspended from his position on the Muslim Judicial Council for South Africa.
As reported by Radio 786, one of the alleged perpetrators has denied the allegations via a lawyer’s letter. According to the letter, the allegations are “wild, unsubstantiated and untrue”.
Picture: Wikimedia Commons
