SOUTH Africa’s Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has tried to reassure people that a “thorough investigation” is now “fully under way” into the alleged sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl that has sparked nationwide protests.
Outraged citizens have been calling for justice for Cwecwe – the pseudonym given to the child to protect her identity.
The case was first reported to the police six months ago, but a lack of progress in the investigation prompted Cwecwe’s frustrated mother to speak out on the matter.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in the world, with rape being the most reported crime against children.
Speaking at a briefing on Friday, Mchunu confirmed that the matter was first reported to police on 16 October last year.
A medical examination was then carried out, alongside an assessment by a social worker. But a month later prosecutors declined to take the matter forward “citing insufficient evidence as the reason” and based on what was in the police case file at the time.
Elaborating on the numerous challenges facing what he called a “complex case”, Mchunu said it had been handled by three different investigating officers, which led to a file that “could have been better prepared”. He also noted they had no witnesses to the alleged crime.
“One critical aspect which has continued to present a serious challenge is the matter around DNA. DNA testing was done on the victim as per procedure and the outcome was that no foreign DNA had been found,” the minister told reporters.
He did however, confirm that three people of interest have been identified and “further DNA testing is under way”.
The police stressed that none of these people were suspects at this point while they defended their handling of the case.
Mchunu confirmed that senior police officials had been assigned to the case.
“I can assure you that we are consulting with all relevant role players to ensure that every aspect of this matter is examined carefully and comprehensively,” he said.
The police declined to provide more details of the progress of the investigation, citing its sensitive nature.
Details of Cwecwe’s alleged sexual abuse first came to be widely known after her mother publicly shared details of the ordeal on numerous platforms.
In a wide-ranging interview last month with a local podcast, Hope Revolution, the mother of two said the alleged incident happened on 14 October, adding that it only came to the family’s attention two days later.
She said that on 14 October, Cwecwe returned home later than usual and while there was no suspicion of anything amiss at that point, her unusual behaviour over the following days raised concern.
First her mother said she noticed Cwecwe’s unzipped school trousers, then the repeated complaints of an upset stomach and finally her difficulty in walking.
Later, her mother recalled, the family noticed blood stains on the tracksuit trousers she wore on the day of the incident.
When the little girl’s difficulty in walking persisted, her parents finally examined her, but “the idea of rape did not come to my mind”, her mother said.
Cwecwe was then taken to the doctor for a formal examination and the mother recalled her reaction when she was told of the alleged assault.
“I cried because I am also a victim of rape so I know how it feels,” she said.
According to the mother, little Cwecwe eventually opened up to her father on the events of the alleged incident.