The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence in Vhembe had a gloomy wrap-up when two cases of rape of minor girls by their biological fathers were reported in the region.
According to Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi, the first incident was reported at Vhulaudzi in the Phadzima area outside Louis Trichardt, where a six-year-old girl was allegedly sexually molested by her father. The incident happened on Sunday, 8 December, between 20:00 and 23:00.
According to information supplied to the police, the mother (who is working in Gauteng) left the girl in the care of the 34-year-old father, who is mentally challenged. Community members who heard about the child's ordeal rushed to the house to find the father had locked himself and his daughter in his house. He managed to escape through a window but was later arrested. His daughter was rescued and taken to hospital, where it was confirmed she had been sexually assaulted.
The second case relates to incidents where a now 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped repeatedly by her father during 2022 at Tshidimbini outside Thohoyandou. According to Dathi, the rapes are alleged to have taken place at the father's home and a disused building in the village.
The girl kept the ordeals to herself as she was allegedly threatened with death should she dare tell anyone about it. Relatives noticed that something was wrong with the girl as she became more withdrawn. Upon questioning her, she opened up and told them of the rapes and death threats.
"The girl was only 12 years old when the ordeal started in July 2022, and she was raped on four occasions, until she opened up to her aunt last week. A case docket was then opened, and the father was arrested on Sunday, 8 December, and charged with rape," said Dathi. The father (33), who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Monday, 9 December. His case was postponed to 13 December. Dathi said the suspect in the Vhulaudzi case had also been arrested and was due to appear in court soon.