MEC Shongwe calls for speedy arrest of school girl rapist
7 December 2010
Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has expressed shock at a manner in which a school girl was raped by an unknown man last week while on her way to school in Tekwane North outside Nelspruit.
The 11 year old girl was reportedly raped while walking to school following the refusal of a bus driver to allow her to board a bus because her bus ticket had expired. The girl then walked to school and she was attacked and raped by an unknown man.
Shongwe said this is happening against the backdrop of 16 Days of Activism for Violence Against Women and Children campaign which runs from 25 November to 10 December annually. The aim of the campaign is to highlight awareness of abuse of women children in the society.
Shongwe has called on the police to urgently set up a task team to
investigate the case and immediately bring the perpetrator to book so that women
and children could feel free to walk when and wherever they wish to go to.
“We have heard it with these merciless cowards who are constantly pouncing on innocent women and children, police will surely bring to book and our courts must give maximum sentences to those successfully prosecuted in order to deter future would be criminals,” retorted Shongwe.
He has meanwhile appealed to the community of Mbombela to be extra vigilant as it has been reported that a suspected serial rapist has allegedly raped three women around Nelspruit who apparently lures his victims under the pretext that he has jobs for them.
The MEC has appealed on women not to allow strangers to manipulate their vulnerabilities. He said they must be vigilant at all times and avoid walking alone in unfamiliar places which might predispose them such incidences.
Enquiries:
Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 7664055
Cell: 082 678 1450
Issued by: Mpumalanga Department of Safety, Security and Liaison
