Hard work and determination has paid off for Det Captain Anrika Bell, of the Benoni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), who secured two life terms and 80 years’ imprisonment for a 41-year-old father recently convicted of rape and child pornography.
The Crystal Park man pleaded guilty to 426 charges following a thorough investigation into the abuse of his two stepsons, who were aged between six and 14, and his biological daughter, who was seven months when the abuse began. It continued until she was eight years old.
Speaking to the City Times, Bell described the case as one of the most emotional cases she has worked on and attributed the outcome of the sentencing to her supportive unit commander, Lieutenant Colonel Cecile Veldman.
Bell said when she engaged with the children it was sad to witness the emotional trauma they had endured at the hands of someone they trusted and loved.
“I remember on the day when the children’s mother and her two sons came to report the case, I was rushing out because I had an appointment. I took them to Colonel Veldman for assistance.
“The eldest son made a statement and a medical examination was conducted.
“When we spoke to the Senior state prosecutor, Liesel van Jaarsveld, about this case she said the father must be arrested and he was subsequently arrested at home.”
Bell said as a mother it was heart-breaking dealing with the case because the perpetrator was the father.
She said often people think it’s strangers who commit such crimes but to learn as a mother that the perpetrator is a loved one is sad.
Among the challenges Bell encountered during the investigation was that the little girl was hesitant at first to speak about the ordeal.
“The daughter would say that she wanted her father to come home, as he was someone she loved and felt protected around.
“When the father was arrested, she wrote us a letter and said that her father must come back home and not be punished.
“She didn’t realise what he was doing to her was wrong until at a later stage.”
Bell said they have seen in most cases they deal with that the perpetrators groom the children in such a way that the children see the perpetrator’s actions as normal.
“Some of the children become too afraid to say something or show emotion,” she said.
Also Read: Father sentenced to life for abuse of children, child pornography
The police officer said the father was declared a paedophile and his name has been entered into the National Child Protection Register, of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.
Following the conclusion of the case, Bell said the father didn’t apologise or show any remorse.
“I think the only remorse he showed was to plead guilty; nothing more. He has left huge scars in the children’s lives and it’s going to take counselling and help for these children to accept and recover from what they went through.” The children are now living with their mother.
Bell advised parents to always take the time to listen and communicate with their children.
“Children will say something and when parents don’t take it seriously, the child will feel that it doesn’t help to speak up.
“Parents must make their children understand that it’s not only strangers who commit such crimes but family members do as well.”
Veldman, who sang the praises of her team for achieving a good conviction rate, said they have seen that it is not only adults who commit such crimes, but lately young children too.
She emphasised that no matter how young a child is, they mustn’t think that they will get away with a crime. They can also be prosecuted.
About Capt Bell
Bell, who has been a resident of Benoni since 1981, joined the SAPS in 1990 to fulfil an intense desire to serve people.
She joined the FCS unit in 2019 after having worked for the Child Protection Unit before its closure.
Also Read: FCS team dedicated to delivering justice
