Body steps in to assist in reporting child abuse
● Body steps in after cops allegedly turn away boy, 9
The Child Witness Institute is inviting Eastern Cape residents to call in if they experience problems in laying complaints of child rape or abuse at police stations.
The call comes in the wake of a furore sparked when a nine-year-old boy was allegedly turned away at two Port Elizabeth police stations after he had been savagely raped on more than one occasion.
The boy and his sister claimed that they had tried to lay a complaint at the Kwazakhele police station on August 25 and again at the New Brighton police station on August 28.
The boy’s sister, who is also his primary caregiver, claimed that at one of the police stations the pair had been told a case could not be opened as the boy might be lying.
Doctors later confirmed that the boy had been sexually assaulted.
Karen Hollely, founder and COO of the institute – a nonprofit organisation which fights for the rights of children in the criminal justice system – said it had been working towards changing the judicial landscape to take the unique needs of child witnesses into account since its inception 20 years ago.
“[We] train and sensitise stakeholders in the legal system on how to work appropriately and sensitively with child witnesses,” she said.
“Our research activities seek to identify and address underlying patterns of abuse, violence and victimisation that lead to these cases.”
When the nine-year-old boy’s case was brought to the institute’s attention, it had been “appalled by the [alleged] inefficiency of the police and could only imagine the trauma the poor boy had gone through [beyond the rape itself],” Hollely said.
“When we were approached [by a colleague and fellow activist] to assist in investigating allegations that the SAPS was refusing to open cases for victims of sexual violence, we were more than willing to help.”
Hollely said sexual violence was a complex issue that required specialised training for those dealing with victims.
She said she was pleading with Eastern Cape residents to reach out if they were not being helped by police.
Residents could phone in for assistance.
She said that when making contact residents should have the following information available:
● Case number (if they had managed to open a case);
● Name of the police station;
● Date and time; and
● Name of the police officer to whom the resident spoke (if they were able to get a name).
The lines are open to all victims of all ages, while relatives or caregivers of minors may also make contact.
Contact details are as follows:
● Office number: 041 373 6968 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm);
● Cell (including WhatsApp): 083 304 0570;
● Facebook: Child Witness Institute (inboxes only); and
● E-mail: childwitness2@gmail.com
When asked what training police officers were given to deal properly with child victims, Port Elizabeth police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said: “Anything regarding organisational issues needs to be directed to national [office] in Pretoria.
“Surrounding the serious allegations that [the boy and his sister] were turned away at two stations, that information is sub judice and we cannot at this point divulge such information in press statements.
“There are two investigations that have been started [one at each station].
“Major-General Dawie Rabie has assigned a team of senior officers to investigate the matter and has vowed to not leave any stone unturned in finding the proof of those allegations and acting if they are found to be true.”
The boy’s sister, however, said she had still not been asked to point out the officers who had turned her away.
When asked about that, Beetge declined to comment.