Durban — The KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has called for a hefty sentence for a pastor who allegedly raped his niece in KwaMashu, north of Durban.
According to reports, the family was divided after the victim shared her ordeal.
Some individuals are alleged to have tried to conceal the incident while others resolved to expose it and registered the rape case with the local police station this week.
Khoza expressed her shock adding that she wanted all the family members who wanted to hide the rape to face the law.
She said it was disgusting that an uncle (pastor) who was supposed to protect a young girl failed and became her nightmare.
Khoza said, “It is very painful to learn about these rape cases and the children victimized by the very same people who are supposed to (have) protected them. This child's life has been destroyed.
“He saw her as a suitable candidate to satisfy himself sexually. Such an offence was gruesome, despicable and disgusting. And the court should not grant this pastor bail. We are faced by a high number of gender-based violence cases and women continue to live in fear. It is for this reason that we want to see the law taking its course in such cases.”
She said the department wants people who violate women's rights to be declared unfit to lead churches or be closer to children.
“We want the names of the rapists to be added to the national register for sexual offenders. It's clear that the perpetrator who is married to her aunt took advantage of the victim as they stayed in the same house.
“We cannot tolerate people who continue to camouflage sexual assaults to protect the perpetrators. We commend those who committed themselves to expose the perpetrator in this case. We want to see the investigating officer doing meticulous work in this case to secure long sentencing,” said Khoza.
Khoza said a team of social workers was dispatched to give support to the victim and her family while ensuring that they work with the police in preparing her for court proceedings.
Daily News