A community activist claimed on social media that groups of foreign national men were luring teenage girls to their shops.
A video shared on social media makes the assertion that foreign nationals have been sexually assaulting teenage girls in spaza shops on the Cape Flats.
Police have asked community members who are circulating the video with the troubling claims to report any possible criminal offences.
Alleged sexual exploitation
The video appeared on the TikTok account @justadvocacy on Wednesday, which highlights issues facing women and children.
The clip features activist Yumna Alexander claiming that foreign spaza shop owners were paying teenage girls for sex.
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“We have a 14 to 15-year-old girl, under correction, that’s currently hospitalised because of a sexually transmitted infection.
“Foreign nationals, known as Somalians, tuck shop owners in our communities, are having sex with young girls. And it’s not one Somalian with one girl at a time,” Alexander states.
Alexander was busy when contacted by The Citizen on Friday, but she did signal her intention to elaborate at a later stage.
No cases opened
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said police had seen the video but required a formal complaint to be made.
“Mitchell’s Plain police are aware of the video that is circulating on social media, however, no one has come forward to open criminal cases or with any information which police can follow up,” Twigg told The Citizen.
“The person who is circulating the video is encouraged to come forward with information in order for the allegations to be investigated,” he requested.
Police have previously stated that reporting crime is essential for resource deployment and the identification of crime trends.
“The sooner a crime is reported, the quicker Saps can begin their investigation. Time is often a critical factor in solving a crime, and delays in reporting can hinder the collection of evidence, witness testimonies, and the identification of suspects,” police stated.
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