Attacks on elderly anger community
Debenek raises red flag after several incidents of rape, assault by suspects
SERIOUS crimes against elderly women continue unabated with some of them claiming when they report them authorities fail to help them.
Because of the fear of being victims, some elderly women have abandoned their homes to live with relatives. In Fama village, in Debenek, a 96year-old woman said her greatgrandchild was raped by a suspect who walked free and “bragged” about the crime.
“If that person can rape my little child [great-grandchild], what can he do to me? I am helpless. I just can’t defend myself. Elderly people are targets, we need peace,” said the woman, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity.
Her 70-year-old friend was raped by someone she knew.
“The police failed to arrest the person despite being identified. We are terrorised in our homes and we opt to live with relatives,” the woman said.
Nobubele Muku’s 72-year-old grandmother was raped two years ago in front of a nine-year-old granddaughter.
A few months later the suspect was arrested but the victim died this year in April.
“After she died, the victim was released from jail. That was painful to us. But now we need to break the silence. Victims of sexual assault must speak out,” a sobbing Muku said.
These were just a few cases that were reported in a meeting attended by hundreds of people from eight villages in the Debenek area at Sidesakho Daycare Centre on Tuesday.
In all these villages, the elderly have been terrorised by people who rob and rape them.
Some of the victims are not lucky as they are murdered.
In Fama, a suspect has allegedly raped more than five women and children His victims spoke out in the meeting, saying they were disgusted by the “slow justice”.
“Justice is slow, there’s just no justice for us victims of this crime. The suspect is known but because of his connections, he walks free in this community,” the 96-year-old said.
Public protector’s Monde Ciko, Commission for Gender Equality commissioner, Nomsisi Bata and department of safety and liaison Amathole manager, Miranda Sinqotho were also present in the meeting together with police officers and social development officials.
But Eastern Cape police provincial spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said after the meeting, police acted swiftly and re-arrested the alleged rapist the villagers had complained about.
“The police listened to and made an arrest.
“The person is facing three cases of rape and is expected in court on Friday,” said Tonjeni.
The gathering was organised by the Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality Ward 13 councillor Zukiswa Mpendu and Khula Community Development director, Petros Majola.
Yesterday Mpendu said there are many victims who are not coming out.
“We need their voices. Women must start speaking out about this and in some villages like Dikidikana villages have started to take the law into their own hands. We decided to call authorities to listen to the people. We want justice to be served,” said the residents Mpendu.
It is believed that there are more than 10 rape victims in the villages altogether but many were reluctant to report cases. “I know of a schoolgirl who is one of those people,” said Mpendu.
Majola said many people didn’t want to give information out to police. “We don’t want police that are just scarecrows, we want working police who are serving the community. This meeting was made successful by all the stakeholders who attended to it and we are grateful for those who were brave enough to voice their anger,” said Majola.
Majola said victims were left with internal scars that were difficult to heal.
“We need social workers to these victims to survive.” — help