President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Department of Health and the South African Police Department (SAPD) are failing the children of South Africa. This comes after Gauteng police opened an investigation into allegations that a two-year-old was raped during her obligated stay in a Covid-19 isolation room.
According to an aunt the girl was referred to the Dr. George Mukhari Hospital in Pretoria on 15 June after she struggled to breath. Hospital staff told the mother to go home since her baby girl might have the coronavirus and needs to be in isolation. Upon discharge the next day the mother realised that the child was not herself and discovered that she has been sexually assaulted. After being sent from one place to the next for over two weeks, the report has finally been handed over to the Gauteng Department of Health to investigate.
Action Society calls on SA’s government and the public to hunt down the perpetrator. “It’s unacceptable for a child to be placed under the protection of the state and something like this happens. President Ramaphosa must stop making empty promises when it comes to the wellbeing of women and children in this country. Sexual offences against children are rising and radical action is needed,” says Daleen Gouws, spokesperson of Action Society.
By making the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) public, Action Society agrees that the rights of South African civilians will finally outwit those of criminals who are protected by our law.
“Like this girl’s mother we assume that our loved ones are surrounded by people that are ‘safe’, but are they? We ought to know if we can truly trust the people we are forced to leave our children with. As long as the NRSO is kept confidential, numerous offenders still target vulnerable people in our society.”
ISSUED BY: Action Society
DATE: 7 July 2020
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Daleen Gouws, Spokesperson: Action Society,
Cell: 0812338351
