A 17-year-old teenager was rushed to Vryheid District Hospital for treatment after she was severely beaten, allegedly by her mother.
It is alleged that the girl disobeyed her mother’s instructions not to go to school. The mother allegedly tied her hands and feet, and assaulted her with a sjambok while the whole family witnessed the attack as it unfolded. The teenage girl was rescued by neighbours who intervened and immediately called the police. The SAPS took her to hospital.
Provincial MEC for Social Development Nonhlanhla Khoza described the incident as ‘gruesome and barbaric’. The MEC visited the 17-year-old in hospital last week Thursday and said, “One cannot understand the beating of this child, since it looks like it was a planned event. It looks like all the family members knew that she was going to be beaten on that day. I have seen the child and I witnessed the deep wounds in her thighs, buttocks and face. Those are the scars that will live with a child! As much as there will be scars to her body, the scarring that is much more serious and that we are concerned about is the internal scarring deep in her heart, which won’t be erased by anything or anyone. So we are here because we are a department that serves the interests of the child and we want to pass a message to the parents. Since children are raised by us, the child needs both parents and it is their responsibility and duty to protect and take care of the child. So if a child is assaulted by someone who is supposed to protect and love her, it is very concerning. We are very concerned as the department and we will take this matter further. As I was talking to the girl, I could see that she was not certain whether she wants to go back home or not. Our social workers will continue to assess her condition so as to tell us, as the department, what needs to be done. But for now, she cannot go home to the people who ganged up on her. We would like to applaud the social workers, SAPS and the hospital for the work they have done.”
Provincial police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed that a case of assault to cause grievous bodily harm was opened and the suspect was arrested. She also mentioned that the suspect has appeared in court.
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