The family and community members joined hands to support a 15-year-old mentally disabled teenager from Thembisa, allegedly raped by three suspects in December last year. Two suspects made their third court appearance on March 18. The third has not been found yet.
Community members marched outside of Thembisa Magistrate’s Court last week Wednesday to ask the court to withdraw the bail it granted to the alleged suspects. The teenager was allegedly raped while visiting her dad in Liliba section. The court hearing was postponed to April 6.
Shanla Hlalele, a family member, said they came to court to support her niece.
“In the first court appearance, the alleged rapists were denied bail, while they were granted R1 000 bail in the second court hearing.
“The march comes after the bail was granted. We want the court to stop giving bails of R1 000 to the accused, almost every rape case the suspects are granted R1 000 bail! They do not care about the victims’ state of mind or emotional situation, or whether or not the victim could be finished off after bail.
“This child has since been traumatised and even isolates herself when people come to visit her. She was a bubbly person, always the first to welcome the visitors from the door,” said Hlalele.
Phindile Ngcobo, community and march leader, said she supports the fight against the abuse of women and children, especially those who are defenceless and vulnerable.
“I am a victim of rape myself. I know the pain and feeling because you never get to forget it. I won’t say I am a rape survivor, but I am a rape victim surviving to help other women and be their voice.
“My case was also here at Thembisa Magistrate’s Court, the eight perpetrators were later sentenced in the Johannesburg High Court.
“From then, I dedicated my life to reaching out to women and children who are going through the same scenarios I faced. I was 27 when I was raped, imagine what the young child is going through currently and imagine how the family feels about this.”
Connie Dlamini, a social auxiliary worker for People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), said they joined the march as POWA supports women who are abused in any way.
“This case is worse because the victim is 15 years old, meaning she is a minor and mentally disabled.
“The resolution to all guilty rape perpetrators is to have their names registered to the sex offenders registry.
“The sex offenders’ registry has been around for quite a while, but many started to hear about it during the SONA by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The registry forbids the guilty to work close to women or children.
“We also offer various programmes to help women in abused state. We have a legal department which advocates for women for free, in case they are in need of a lawyer. We have the shelter department where we take you through procedures and find you a safe place to stay temporarily, and we provide counselling and equip you with skills for the duration of your stay,” said Dlamini.
