More than R100 000 raised to help restaurant toilet rape victim

AT LEAST R137 581 in donations has already been handed over to the family of the 7-year-old girl raped in a toilet at the Dros restaurant in Silverton, Pretoria.

Following the incident, crowdfunding platform BackaBuddy sent an appeal to the public to assist the family to pay for her therapy sessions.

The fundraising campaign was established by concerned citizens. It was revealed that one of the donors contributed an amount of R31 018.97.

BackaBuddy’s Catherine du Plooy said the family were still trying to come to terms with the shock, physical and emotional trauma that the matter had caused.

“The family wish to extend their sincere gratitude to the BackaBuddy team and the 193 donors who have generously supported this cause through donations and messages of support,” she said.

Du Plooy said the campaign was ongoing and that donations would be used to help rebuild the little girl’s life and cover the needs of the family during this difficult time.

“All funds raised with this initiative will be strictly managed by BackaBuddy. Funds will only be released to the family directly or to relevant practitioners identified by the family to help cover any needs she might have.”

When pleading for donations, the group said: “We know that rape can traumatise the victim for years; so we hope the funds raised will be used for therapy and rehabilitation for the victim so she can have some semblance of normality or even happiness again...

“We are also happy for the family to use these funds in any way they see fit – we trust the family will know best what to do to help their daughter under the circumstances.”

Nicholas Ninow, 21, is in custody in connection with the rape. He will appear again in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on November 1.