The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is appalled by the inept handling of the case involving the rape, subsequent to a suspected drugging, of a seven-year-old child on school premises at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.

COSATU joins other South Africans’ calling for justice for the child who was brutally violated on school premises, a place that should have been a safe haven for her. This horrendous crime was perpetrated against her in October last year, but to date no one has been arrested and brought to account. This is alarming, unacceptable and if allowed to continue will cause irreparable damage to the child and her family.      

Even more disturbing are reports that the principal of the school is refusing to submit himself for DNA testing after the caretaker and the driver who fetched the child from school that day, cooperated with authorities. Surely, as the most senior official at the school, the principal would want to assist law enforcement authorities to expedite the case to ensure justice for the child who was left in the care of the institution he manages. 

COSATU is also shocked to hear that there were attempts to dissuade the parent of the child from reporting the incident to police. This is shameful when considering incidents of rape are habitually underreported and this is one of the factors that makes eradicating this scourge difficult. The alleged attempt to silence the family and cover up the incident is unacceptable and warrants urgent further investigation.

The Federation calls on Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, to mobilise all the resources available to expedite this case and ensure justice for Cwecwe. The mishandling of this case from the beginning should never have been allowed to happen considering only 4% of child abuse cases result in conviction. COSATU has no doubt Minister Mchunu will agree that more must be done to ensure the conviction rate improves substantially.

The Federation stands in solidarity with the family and supports their quest for justice.

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (COSATU National Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za