CHILD Welfare Kempton Park was on Thursday morning pleased with an alleged rapist’s guilty plea.
The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old Kempton girl. The incident allegedly took place between 2014 and 2015 but was first reported in January this year.
“Child Welfare is very happy with the perpetrator’s guilty plea. At times like these we need to come together and advocate for aggravated sentences for child abusers, so we can uphold and promote the rights of children within our jurisdiction of Ekurhuleni,” Kempton branch’s director Zodwa Mzondo expressed.
According to Kempton police spokesman Capt Jethro Mtshali, the family, child and sexual offences unit was investigating the matter.
The teenager has since been taken away from her home in Kempton and placed in a children’s home, into the care of social services. The accused will appear again in court for his sentencing on July 19.
Child Welfare lobbied outside the Kempton Magistrate’s Court as part of their Child Protection Week campaign. Child Protection Week takes place from May 26 until June 1.
Also read:
• Kempton metro cop denied bail for double rape
• Mother hands over her son expected of rape
The group advocated for children’s rights in terms of sexual offences committed against children and called for harsher sentences on alleged perpetrators.
They will also be involved in other campaigns around Kempton as part of Child Protection Week, including conducting information sessions at Mehlareng Primary School on sexual abuse and identifying an abuser, holding information sessions at Taalnet Private School on bullying, exhibitions and marketing child protection services at KempStar Mall and going door-to-door at the Pomona informal settlement issuing pamphlets and raising awareness on child protection services.
“Enough is enough, we are sick and tired of child abuse, we are sick and tired of people taking advantage of our children and we are sick and tired of abusers taking the dignity of our children. As Child Welfare we are promoting the rights of children as well as the safeguarding and wellness of children,” Mzondo concluded.
