Community enraged over alleged rape
According to relatives, the mother forced her adopted daughter to have sex with her boyfriend for R300.
“I HATE her,” said the Motala Heights 11-year-old girl when asked how she feels about her mother.
A 54-year-old man and the girl’s mother (50) from Motala Heights made their first appearance in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 30 November and intended pleading not guilty to 11 counts, which included child abuse, rape, compelled rape and sexual assault.
The girl said it wasn’t nice living with her mother, even though she used to receive gifts at time her mum used to her, “I was never naughty because I was afraid she would hurt me,” she said.
The couple appeared again on Wednesday, 2 December and angry Motala Heights and Chatsworth residents were outside court protesting bail.
“As a community we are not happy about what has happened to the girl,” said Sipho Phoswa, a community member.
Phoswa said the girl was always scared, even when she was offered assistance by any man on the road she would be afraid, but now that her situation has changed he can see she is happier, relieved and open.
According to reports, Cst Anele Jingela said that the girl’s mother had sold her daughter for sex on more than one occasion.
She also said the mother was alleged to have undressed the 11-year-old and locked her in a room with the Pinetown man.
The 54-year-old man has a wife, three adult children and is a taxi owner and driver who also transports school children to and from school.
The man had obtained a peace order from the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on 19 November against the girl’s stepbrother, which he felt led to the charges against him in this case.
According to relatives, the mother forced her adopted daughter to have sex with her boyfriend for R300.
“If they get bail, it will be defeating the purpose of 16 Days of Activism Against Woman and Children,” said the girl’s sister-in-law.
The sister-in-law also pointed out that the mother wouldn’t allow her to go to school, “She made her take out a ‘good’ tooth just so she could get a doctor’s note and not attend school,” she said.
“We are a small community: when something like this happens we get alarmed, and we want the community to be aware and make sure something like this never happens again,” said another relative.
“He was a good friend of mine, but I have lost all respect for him. People like him should not be granted bail,” he continued.
The family is grateful for the support they have received from various community groups, including the People’s Choice group from Chatsworth, the Jamie Lee Forum, councillor Brandon Pillay and Motala Heights businessman, Ricky Govender, for providing the community with transport to the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court.
The couple appeared in court on Monday, 7 November and were denied bail for the safety of the child, they will appear again in court on 7 January.
