Rape victims have an early Christmas

PIENAAR – Gone are the days when a child believed that when you are surrounded by your loved ones or family members, you are safe.

This was proven when the women ‘s network from the local police station brought an early Christmas to victims of rape in surrounding areas as part of closing the campaign of the 16 Days for No Violence Against Women and Children. There were mixed emotions when SAPS and Grip officials during the visits as it brought to light that most of the victims are children and they are abused by the people who are sharing the same roof with them that were supposed to protect them.

Mpumalanga News learnt that most of the victims find it very difficult to live under the same roof with the perpetrators as most of them were raped by members of their family and as a result some have decided to rather stay with relatives than to face the abuser every day. This publication came across many shocking incidents of rape which involves family members. Such is the case of two girls, aged six and seven years, who were repeatedly raped by their elder brother while their mother was fast asleep in a shack that she shared with the children. The father also raped his two daughters.

Speaking during the surprise visits, spokesperson for the police, Sgt Jabu Ndubane said, “As we are approaching Christmas, we have decided to give them presents as we believe it’s the season for giving. We love them and we need to continue to do more. What we are experiencing today is very painful as most of the victims are children. People are supposed to have a good time over Christmas. Let’s make sure that children are always safe to avoid increasing the number of children who are raped,” she explained.

She added that as a network, they were going to sit down and check on how they could assist some of the victims. This comes after they visited one of the victims and discovered that the household did not have food. She concluded, “It’s known that during this season people are having good times, eating whatever they want, but some families will be starving. We are not going to fold our hands as something must be done.”