Police arrest alleged rapist at Mama Esther’s Haven

Mpumalanga police have arrested a 65-year-old man in Pilgrim’s Rest for the alleged rape of children between 8-13 years.

Sgt Gerald Sedibe, the provincial spokesperson confirmed the arrest.

“The suspect will appear at the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court tomorrow,” he said.

Also read: Police investigate the rape of eight-year-old at orphanage

The department of social development has issued a statement condemning the continued operation of Mama Esther’s Haven where the latest alleged rape incident of the eight-year-old boy took place -he revealed that the arrested 65-year-old had also allegedly raped him, including other six girls and a boy. The suspect is alleged to have taken the group of children in his vehicle to a dam in Sabie for a swim. The boy also alleged that is where the suspect cuddled and raped the children.

“The department is unhappy about certain things at the centre as reported earlier in the year. In the recent case of rape, the matter is receiving the legal attention it deserves,” says department’s spokesperson, Ronny Masilela.
Masilela said kids were removed from the centre earlier this year after the department issued the centre’s founder, Mama Esther Nkosi a letter to stop operating within 14 days after giving her the letter on March 6, 2017.

“She, however, took the kids back, disobeying the department’s orders of not keeping kids there.
We then followed the legal processes. The matter is before the court as we speak and we are so far waiting for a court date,” said Masilela on Wednesday.
Asked about the current activities going on at the centre, Masilela emphasised that it was against the law.

“As far as we know, what is happening there is totally against the National Children’s Act, we, however, need to follow the legal route, thereafter find another place where the children will placed, ” he said.

Masilela also revealed the department’s intention of closing down the centre if its founders don’t comply with what was said in the letter of March 6.

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The letter states that the centre is not managed and maintained in full compliance of the law and thus places the lives of the children in danger.

“This has prompted the department to intervene by offering assistance and support to ensure compliance by way of numerous visits to the centre by our social workers. However, you failed and ignored to comply and that you also failed to apply for registration of the centre,” reads a portion of the letter.
Mama Esther is on record saying that her centre was legally registered and referred accusations against her as mere “politicking” by social workers and the department of social development.