By Ntombifuthi Buthelezi
In recent months, many have raised concern about whether the South African justice system is adequately equipped with dealing with sexual assault and rape cases. This is after televangelist Pastor Tim Omotoso was acquitted of all 32 charges against him when it emerged that the prosecutor in the case started a WhatsApp group with the witnesses in the case. It was then decided that he had to be deported back to his home country of Nigeria.
In a separate case, there will be no prosecution in the alleged rape case of 7-year-old Cwecwe as there isn’t enough evidence that the child was raped last year. This is after her mother had initially said she had received no help from the police when she reported it until she started to publicly speak about their ordeal on social media and to podcasters. This led to protests around the county, including a number of them in Durban.
It then emerged that in South Africa, there are approximately 595 cases of rape and sexual assault reported every day.
This could be the reason why so many came out to show their support and ask for #JusticeForCwecwe.
Smangele Madonsela marched with her daughter. “What happened to Cwecwe can happen to anyone’s daughter out there. Just because your child is safe for now, it doesn’t mean what happened to Cwecwe won’t happen to her. Justice must be served for Cwecwe. The perpetrator must rot in jail,” she told us at one of the marches.
Nomzamo Dlamini, who works at Cebolethu Funerals said that she was delighted to be part of the march. “I don’t have much to say besides to say I am sorry, Cwecwe, for what you went through at this young age, we failed you as the citizens of South Africa, but I would like to ensure you that we will fight for you and whoever did this to you will be arrested. We won’t rest until justice is served to you; we will be your voice,” she said.
In her solidarity, actress Amanda Du Pont called for justice for the little girl and shared a video where she reflected on how she feels the justice system failed her when she reported her alleged rape in the hands of rapper, TV presenter and convicted criminal Molemo “Jub Hub” Maarohanye.
Ukhozi FM’s Ngizwe Mchunu said that Cwecwe’s story made him think of his 7-year-old daughter. He said that he knows the pain and hardship of being let down by the justice system.
There won’t be justice for Cwecwe and Omotoso is back in Nigeria, but South Africans are loud in their call for the justice system to do better.
