MEC saves disabled girl from sexual abuse

AN EASTERN Cape teenager who has suffered repeated sexual abuse, allegedly by her own father, has been taken to a safe house.

This was after someone alerted Social Development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi on one of her regular visits to the Chris Hani District constituency office on Monday.

Sihlwayi said she was disappointed to discover that in preliminary investigations, social workers in the area had been made aware that the child was possibly being abused, but due to nobody coming forward to lay a formal complaint, the allegations were not investigated.

“The department has a legislated authority and responsibility to remove any person who is believed to be suffering from abuse and only after they have been placed in a safe place can they investigate and carry out assessments. What is urgent is for the abuse to stop immediately.

“This is why [everything else] follows after the person has been removed from exposure to the alleged abuser,” explained Sihlwayi.

The 17-year-old, who is intellectually disabled, is also unable to speak.

According to Sihlwayi, after being taken into care, an initial check by a doctor at the local clinic confirmed that the young girl had been sexually abused.

Residents who approached Sihlwayi on Monday said the abuse of the 17year-old was commonly known throughout their community, but nobody had ever reported it to the police.

The teenager lived in a two-roomed house with both her parents and is believed to have shared a bed with them.

Sihlwayi said the department had also taken the mother into safety as there were suspicions that she too was abused.

The department said after an assessment had been done, which would take a couple of days at most, they would pursue criminal charges if other members of the family failed to do so.

The assessment will include medical tests, psychological assessments, as well as other testing to evaluate the youngster’s competency to withstand a trial.

“It is our responsibility as a department to seek justice for those who may not be able to do so for themselves.

“This kind of crime must be eliminated from our society and if there is no one to stand up on behalf of the girl, the department must step in and ensure that her life and dignity are restored,” said Sihlwayi.