Father accused of raping daughters
Claims four-year-old now disabled
Enraged Pakamisa residents in Ntabethemba handed over a petition to the police last Friday after a man was arrested for having allegedly sexually abused his daughters, aged four and 10.
According to reports, the four-yearold girl had suffered permanent damage to one arm and leg due to the abuse.
The father appeared in the Komani magistrate’s court on Monday.
The protesting residents were joined by public infrastructure minister Patricia de Lille and National Prosecuting Authority representative Lubabalo Qenge during their march, which was also held to launch 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence.
The petition was received by SA
Police Services Brigadier Zuziwe Magqashela.
Ward councillor of the area Ntsikelelo Nduku said: “The four-yearold ended up becoming disabled in her leg and arm after the sexual abuse.”
“We also discovered that the mother of the children [allegedly] knew about this.
“She [allegedly] told the children to not tell anyone about what their father was doing to them.
“She would keep the children indoors and prevent them from playing with other kids.”
Nduku said the children needed to be removed from their mother’s care for their safety.
“We want steps to be taken concerning the mother’s negligence.
“We do not want the offender to be given bail and we want the woman to be also placed behind bars because she played a part in the abuse of the children when she told them not to talk about it,” Nduku said.
The councillor said the community had learnt of the alleged abuse after the ten-year-old had confided in her friends at school.
He said the community had also claimed the man had allegedly attempted to rape his 16-year-old daughter, who lived in Cape Town, but she had been able to get away from him.
“His older daughter overpowered him so he resorted to victimising his young girls,” Nduku said.
De Lille said they had handed over the memorandum to the police on behalf of the women and children of Pakamisa.
She said: “Gender-based violence is high in the area and we are all working with the police to stop the scourge.”