Tshwane not aware of Justice For Cwecwe ‘shutdown’ march application

The City of Tshwane said it had not received an application for a protest over the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl, Cwecwe.

Justice for SA, a non-governmental organisation, has planned a series of marches in various cities, including Tshwane.

Protest march  

The purported protests are expected to take place on Tuesday.

City of Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) spokesperson Isaac Mahamba told The Citizen they are not aware of the march and no permits had been issued.

“We did not receive an application as yet.”

Rape

The rape case involving Cwecwe has ignited outrage over systemic failures in handling the case involving the child.

Cwecwe’s mother was forced to turn to social media after a child was reported raped in October last year.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Braamfontein last week under the banner Justice for Cwecwe. A nationwide mass shutdown of various education departments across the country was planned, including demonstrations to hand over a petition at the Union Buildings.

ALSO READ: Police clarify comments on DNA samples in Cwecwe rape matter

DNA debacle

On Friday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu reassured people that a “thorough investigation” is “fully under way” into the alleged sexual abuse of Cwecwe.

Mchunu confirmed that three persons of interest had been identified and “further DNA testing is underway”.

However, the Police Ministry denied that a DNA sample was taken from a third person of interest in the case.

This after Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said DNA samples had been collected from two men and, recently, another person who initially reportedly refused to submit his DNA.

Investigations

Mchunu’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said they had taken note of statements on various social media platforms surrounding the ongoing case of the minor in Matatiele and the DNA samples that were collected.

“The minister of police never made any statement that the DNA of the third person of interest had been taken but, based on the initial report received, said he was among those suspected. He further said that DNA tests had been conducted without providing any specifics — these tests were in respect of the minor,” Mogotsi said.

Mogotsi said the major general deployed to ensure a thorough investigation is working “diligently to ensure that all relevant evidence is carefully examined”.

ALSO READ: Justice for Cwecwe: AfriForum slams ‘social media detectives’ as outrage swells