Pretoria - Gender-based violence activists and EFF members gathered outside the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court in solidarity with the mother, 36, of a toddler, 2, that was raped allegedly by her uncle, 27, last month.
The Soshanguve woman has relocated to a safer place, undisclosed to the rest of her family, who allegedly turned their back on her for reporting the man to the police instead of solving the matter within the family.
The hurting woman has since experienced a fall out with her mother, a nurse at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, and her aunt, who works for the South African Police Service, who support the accused’s bail application.
Her supporters held hands with her and began a prayer on Friday morning before taking to the street to continue their demonstration and calling on the state to deliver justice to ensure that others learn from this and learn not to look at children with sexual eyes.
EFF members and gender-based violence activists protest outside the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court in support of the mother of a 2-year-old girl raped allegedly by her 27-year-old uncle. @EFFSouthAfrica #Rape #GBV pic.twitter.com/YQFedjhJjI
They said this was not the kind of matter that could be solved by a family meeting as a disgusting crime occurred and a child was harmed in the processed.
They said the child was already taking ARVs to prevent potential exposure to HIV.
The incident in question allegedly occurred on September 24 when the mother took her child with her to visit her home in Soshanguve and clean the house for his mother who was not well and due to return home from hospital.
The mother told Pretoria News that their community was load-shedded and while she was cleaning a room, her brother watched her daughter in another room. Suddenly he was playing loud music on his cellphone and shortly thereafter the mother heard a painful scream coming from the child.
“When I rushed to the room I found him undressed and he dropped my daughter. He turned his back on me. I ran to come back with a light and saw what he had just did. He hurt my child. Her genital area was wide opened,” said the mother with tears flowing down her face.
Leader of the EFF in Tshwane Obakeng Ramabodu said the party would support the mother even against those members of her family who may have turned their backs on her in this tough time.
He said gender-based violence perpetrators need to be dealt with and put away.
Court proceedings were once again delayed by load shedding as the court did not have back-up power.
The crowd was sent out of the court for safety reasons, where they continued the demonstration.
Pretoria News