The Department of Social Development has learnt with utter dismay and disgust of the alleged rape of a 13 year old girl child who is in grade six in a farm school located at about four kilometres near Orangeville in Metsimaholo.
It is alleged that this innocent girl child was on Sunday, 17 May 2009 raped by her own teacher who had lured her to his house under guise that she should bring him an English textbook. This girl child whose name is known to officials of the Department of Social Development reported the matter to her parents who then opened a case with the police and the teacher was then arrested. He is appearing in court today. It is our trust that the full might of the law will take its course and justice will be served in this regard.
This horrible incident is taking place whilst we are on a build up Child Protection Awareness Campaign towards the Child Protection Week which starts on the 25 May to 1 June 2009 when we will be celebrating the International Day of Children. We wish to take this opportunity to urge members of the public, individuals, families, non-governmental organisations and all to ensure that both in our individual conduct and public actions we demonstrate the values and ethos that seek to create a dispensation of a child friendly society. We must not only condemn the uncivilised acts of brutality against children but ensure that the perpetrators of these acts are brought to face the full might of the law.
Let us encourage our people to report any suspicion or incidents of child abuse, neglect, child poverty, and child labour, the use of children as sex slaves, prostitutes, and the use of children as drug smugglers. Our children deserve better, they must be afforded the opportunity of decent living, decent education in crèches and schools.
It is our hope and trust that in this incident that the police will do all their work right to ensure a successful prosecution of the alleged perpetrator and his successful conviction. The sentence we are hoping for is a maximum one to ensure that the right message is sent to all who may be intending to commit such uncivilised acts that they too will face the full might of the law. They must be taught that our societies are no places for people like them.
The Department of Social Development will afford the child and his family the necessary counselling services to ensure that they are brought back to living a normal life.
For further enquiries, please contact:
Mr Mondli Mvambi
Communication, Marketing and Media Services
Tel: 051 400 0302
Fax: 051 400 0262
E-mail: mondli@socdev.fs.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Social Development, Free State Provincial Government
19 May 2009
