THE family of an 18-year old girl who has been a rape victim for months by her uncle and pastor will finally find peace as the perpetrator was arrested on Tuesday in KwaMashu, outside Durban in KwaZulu Natal . The uncle and pastor of a church, known to Zimoja, was arrested on after a family member who wished to remain anonymous escalated the matter to the local social workers. "I realised that some of my siblings wanted to keep the matter under carpet yet my niece was suffering. It was not fair, as much as the person who did this is a family member. I had to do something about it. They may hate me now but they will thank me in future for standing up against nonsense," the source said.She further said that what irritates her the most was that the matter had divided the whole family."We are not on speaking terms because of his doings. He must rot in jail. I don't care whether we are related or not. In my world when you commit a crime, you must pay for it," the source said angrily.
FAMILY WHO HID MATTER TO FACE THE LAW
KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza confirmed the matter and called for hefty sentence for the pastor who raped his niece. Khoza also wants to see all the family members who hid the rape to face the law. " It's alleged that a well respected pastor severely raped his 18-year-old niece who was residing with him and her aunt for some time. It's alleged that within the family there were individuals who tried to conceal the incident after the victim shared her ordeal. The alleged incident divided the family members until others resolve to expose it and registered the rape case with the local police station this week." Khoza expressed her shock and disgust that a man who was supposed to protect a young girl became her nightmare.
"It is very painful to learn about these rape cases daily and the children victimised by the very same people who are supposed to protected them. This child's life has been destroyed," she said.
PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE WOMEN UNFIT TO LEAD CHURCHES
Khoza pleaded with the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate who are the people attempted to conceal the sexual abuse of the young lady. "We want to see names of rapists being added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders. Such people who violate women's rights also need to be declared unfit to lead churches or be closer to children. It's clear that the perpetrator who is married to her aunt took advantage of the victim as they stayed in the samd house," said a fuming Khoza, adding that "We cannot tolerate people who continue to camouflage sexually assault to protect the perpetrators. We commend those who committed themselves to expose the perpetrator in this case. We want to see the investigating officer doing meticulous work in this case to secure a long sentencing," she said.
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GRUESOME, DESPICABLE AND DISGUSTING
Khoza further said the pastor was an uncle who failed to protect the victim.
"He saw her as a suitable candidate to satisfy himself sexually. Such an offence was gruesome, despicable and disgusting. And the court should not grant this pastor bail. We are faced by a high number of Gender-Based Violence cases and women continue to live in fear. It is for this reason that we want to see the law taking its cause in such cases."Khoza said it will be pleasing to see those who fail to report the rape case being summoned to appear before court to face a charge of failure to report the rape.Khoza has dispatched a team of social workers to the victim's family to provide psycho-social support. The social workers will have to give support to the victim and her family while ensuring that they work with the police in preparing the victim for court proceedings. Family members refused to comment on the matter for the fear of victimisation.
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