About 60 adults and 17 children fled from the Randfontein Dump Site, where they had endured three years of abuse, on Sunday, 1 October.
One of the women claimed to have been gang-raped and opened a case at the police station. Some of the women were suicidal and seven are suffering from HIV, high blood pressure and/ or diabetes.
Regetta Beaufort, Ward 8 DA councillor, Michelle Adams and Rashida Abrahams from Westview Clinic, a Kemajo coach, youth activist and chairperson of the Randfontein Youth Crime Prevention organisation, initially gave them a safe haven at the Toekomsrus Community Hall.
Read the initial article here: Women and children raped and abused at R’fontein dumping site
Fifty adults and eight children then left, some returning to the dump site and others moving in with family members.
Recently, Rashida was informed that the remaining 10 adults and nine children had to vacate their place of safety. Devastated at the news, she then turned to the municipality for assistance, to no avail, and finally contacted the Herald for assistance.
The Herald contacted Tshidiso Thlaripe, the spokesperson for the Executive Mayor, only to be told that the mayor could unfortunately not meet with them on Tuesday because of a housing project launch. However, they were eventually able to meet with the Executive Mayor, Mzi Khumalo, Tshidiso Thlaripe and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) Annah Gela from the Department of Health and Social development this morning (Wednesday, 8 November).
At the meeting, it was decided that the remaining women and children would stay with one of Rashida’s relatives until December, and in the meantime the Rand West City Local Municipality will look for job opportunities for them.
Rashida said that she was very relieved at the outcome, and appreciates that somebody finally listened to her.
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