Girl, 4, raped at Soweto daycare centre

A four-year-old girl from Soweto has been raped, allegedly by a man living at the daycare centre she attends.

The Gauteng department of social development has since sent a team of investigators to establish if the Silindokuhle Day Care Centre is operating legally.

“In terms of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, partial care facilities are places of care for children between 0-6 years which must provide a safe and secure environment for children,” said Gauteng social development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe.

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“Furthermore, this investigation will enable the department to take legal steps to remedy this unfortunate event and provide the family and toddler with psychosocial support,” said Mosupyoe.

The incident comes off the back of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Sunday.

He spoke about the country’s progress in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, but he also touched on the country’s “other pandemic” – which is the violence against women and children.

“This month alone there have been a number of terrible crimes committed against women and girls,” said Ramaphosa.

University of Fort Hare law student Nosicelo Mtebeni was murdered and dismembered in East London; a Grade 1 pupil from Khensani Primary School in Soshanguve was raped in the school’s toilets; Palesa Maruping was found hanging from the ceiling of a house in Khuma location in the North West; Pheliswa Sawutana was strangled to death in Kosovo informal settlement in Cape Town.

“These are just the cases that were covered in the media; there were others that were not. These gruesome acts of violence cannot go unpunished,” said Ramaphosa.

It is unclear if police have made any arrests yet.

The Citizen has forwarded requests for comment to the Gauteng Social Department and police.

Police said they have not yet been made aware that a rape took place and the department has not yet answered.

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The MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe has stressed that, “Women and children
are constant targets for rape and abuse in our country. If indeed any fault
is found regarding the ECD in question the department must take action
immediately.”