Families of Matatiele rape victims say police have failed them

MATATIELE - Eastern Cape families whose children were victims of rape said that police had failed the little ones.

Some of the children are believed to have been harmed at the same school in Matatiele last year.

One of the families told EWN about the hurt suffered by a seven-year-old girl, allegedly on school premises.

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This is another case that has caused public outrage following the rape of another child in Matatiele last year.

The little girl’s family in Gobizembe said they opened a case of rape after finding out about the attack last year, but they allegedly never received updates from police.

"The child is hurt. We were not informed that a suspect had been arrested. There was silence. At some point, when we were probing, we were told that the suspect had been released. First, we weren’t told that he was arrested, we didn’t even know that he was also released. Who has the proof that he was ever arrested?"

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is expected to brief the media on the progress of another case involving the rape of a seven-year-old girl, also in the area.

The minister's briefing will, however, take place almost 800 kilometeres away from where the victims are.