Grabouw teen left for dead is on the mend

Mother says she and her daughter have benefited from counselling

THE GRABOUW teenager who survived a brutal rape and assault was recovering well and receiving trauma counselling while in hospital, her mother said. The 14-year-old girl was stabbed, strangled and buried alive under a pile of rocks late last Saturday night.

The mother, who has been at her bedside since, said trauma counselling had been very helpful to her and her daughter.

“My daughter is much better after the counselling she’s been getting at the hospital. She can talk, eat and walk. Even I have been helped by it because I didn’t know how to handle what happened and be strong for her.”

The family’s name has been withheld to protect the girl’s identity.

Her mother told the Cape Argus that even though they could never forget what had happened, she was happy with her daughter’s recovery. “I’m hoping we’ll go home next week so she can go back to school sooner.”

The girl’s aunt said the rest of the family also received counselling last week and that it had been a great help. “No one was right after what happened, but once we got counselled we feel much better and it really helped us cope with the tragedy.”

The girl was allegedly grabbed by her attacker, dragged to a vacant lot, raped, beaten, stabbed, strangled and left for dead.

Phakiso Mpanyane, 22, was arrested in connection with the incident and appeared in the Grabouw Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape, attempted murder and robbery. The matter was postponed to September 21. safe space to share and talk about their experiences. “Often survivors can’t talk to other people and counselling provides that non-judgemental space where they can talk freely.”

McDonald said family is vital because they are the survivor’s support system and they too need to be counselled so they know how to deal with the situation.

Annari du Plessis from GoPurple, an NGO that assists rape victims, said it is important for a counsellor not to just counsel but to see the journey of recovery through. “Counselling is important, but it doesn’t just end there. One must go all the way until the survivor says they are fine.”

She too felt it was important for the family to get counselling, and that people must speak out and get help when they have been violated so they can reclaim their lives.

Grabouw’s Community Policing Forum refused to comment on the matter, saying they “don’t have information to comment”.