Police rev up awareness following alleged rape of girls (7) in Putfontein
The 32-year-old suspect in the alleged rape case remains in custody as investigations continue.
Following the shocking report of two seven-year-old girls from the Zwakala informal settlement in Putfontein allegedly being raped by a 32-year-old man on July 27, the Putfontein SAPS hosted an awareness campaign on August 8 to address issues of sexual violence and child protection.
Various stakeholders, including Benoni Child Welfare, Mogoba Men’s Forum, Theodora Ndaba Victim-Friendly Room (VFR), community patrollers, and other organisations, participated in the session at the informal settlement.
During the session, participants engaged with community members about the importance of safeguarding children, recognising signs of abuse, and reporting cases to authorities without delay.
Putfontein SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Raider Ubisi urged the community to work with the police and report any suspicious activity immediately.
He advised them not to take matters into their own hands, but to call the police.
“After the rape incident of the two girls, we discovered people were posting unverified information on social media. Refrain from this. Stop posting anything that could harm the victims in the next 20 years,” he said.
Social work manager at Benoni Child Welfare, Thando Nkomo, highlighted the importance of parents teaching their children to open up when they encounter challenges.
She urged parents to be involved in their children’s lives by making time for them every day to catch up, ask about school, and learn what is happening in their lives.
A member of the Gauteng Traffic Warden team informed the community about the Gauteng Traffic Warden panic button, also known as the Gauteng e-Panic Button app, which is a provincial government initiative that allows residents to report crimes and request medical or armed response via their smartphones.
She said residents can download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
The rape suspect remains in custody as investigations continue.
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