Police are investigating a charge of rape after a 12-year-old girl was reportedly assaulted by four teenage boys in Elsies River. The child is experiencing sleep difficulties and has not returned to school since the incident occurred about a week ago.
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According to the mother, who remains anonymous to safeguard her child’s identity, the incident occurred when her daughter was walking home from a friend’s house, reports IOL.
The four suspects aged between 14 and 16 attacked her and dragged her to a known local drug house where they raped her.
‘What hurts us the most is that this is not the first incident that happened in that house, and the community is quiet. I don’t know how many more girls should become victims before something is done.’
‘My daughter struggles to sleep, eat and can’t even focus at school.’
‘She is in Grade 7, but lately, she is just off and refuses to engage with other children.’
‘Whenever she sees boys she turns red, you can tell from her eyes that she is really hurt.’
‘As a mother, I feel helpless that I wasn’t able to save her from that incident. We really need to do more in raising young boys because this is not it.’
‘We as the family are also scared for her, we don’t know what can happen to us or her, all we want is justice.’
‘These boys need to be taught a lesson, that what they did is not acceptable in society. They are ruining young girls’ futures and theirs in the process too,’ she stated.
According to police spokesperson Wesley Twigg, four suspects, aged 14 to 16, have been arrested on rape charges. They underwent the assessment process and appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrates’ Court.
Kerry Mauchline, the spokesperson for Education MEC David Maynier, explained that the school reported the incident to the district, emphasising that it was unrelated to school activities. The school social worker held supportive sessions with both the student and the parent last week, offering guidance on available organisations to assist the family.
‘As the learner has not been back to school since the incident, the school is providing academic support, and remains in contact with the family to hear about any developments on the case.’
Patric Solomons, the director of the child rights organisation Molo Songololo, stressed the importance of educating children about the repercussions of their behaviour.
‘There is an increase in the sexualisation of our children and they fall victim to abuse perpetrated by adults and children themselves.’
‘In a case like this, the children must be assessed and in this case, they are definitely liable.’
‘Our children experience these things and think that it’s right, they are groomed and get a lot of sexual content that entices them into thinking this is correct or is the right behaviour.’
‘Parents should try to pay more attention to the children they are raising and always be protective of their future and what they are being exposed to.’
‘This is very worrying. The children are exposed to a lot and it’s traumatic to those who fall victims, we have a very challenging situation,’ he affirmed.
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