Urgent call for safety after 14-year-old girl raped on her way to school

The abduction and rape of a 14-year-old girl who was left near her school in Langa has prompted calls for parents to accompany their children to and from school.

The Langa Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Forum issued an alert to the community following the incident on Tuesday.

Anele Gqasana, GBV programme coordinator for Projects Manager Langa, said support would be provided to the victim’s family.

A woman who found the girl after the attack said the child was visibly traumatised.

“I met the girl who said, ‘Sisi, can you please help me?’ She told me she had been raped by men and then dropped off near a school,” the woman said.

She took the girl to her school.

Gqasana urged vigilance and parents were advised to monitor their children’s movements closely.

“I received information about this on Tuesday morning. The person who reported this to us was a parent who witnessed this.

“I quickly referred the case to Langa SAPS, and the Bishop Lavis police took over. We then issued the alert for parents about this to the safety forum. We will support the family," Gqasana said.

“This was an alarming incident; we fear it could happen again. We don't know who this man is, but we hope the police will investigate and arrest him because there are CCTV cameras all around.”

Langa police registered an abduction and rape case.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “This case was transferred to Bishop Lavis FCS for further investigation.

“According to reports, the victim left home to go to school.  When she stopped at a shop to buy chips, she was called by a taxi driver in a white Toyota Quantum taxi. 

"The driver gave her money to buy cigarettes for him, which she did. When she came back, he told her to put it on the passenger seat as the driver’s window was not working.

“She went around when she tried to open the door. The two passengers opened the sliding door and pulled her in, and they drove off with her.

“They drove with her to an unknown field where she was taken out of the taxi and raped by the driver only. She was then placed back in the taxi, and the suspects drove back and dropped her off on Washington Street, Langa. Investigations continue, no arrest yet.”

Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the investigation officer, Detective Sergeant Lee-Ann Carstens, on 082 559 4598 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Cape Times