Cwecwe protesters: Justice must be served

PROTESTERS demand justice for seven-year-old girl.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Pretoria on Tuesday, 1 April demanding justice for a seven-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in an Eastern Cape school.

The demonstration, fueled by outrage and frustration, brought together students, community members and activists who called for accountability and stricter measures to prevent child rape.

With chants, songs, and placards, the protesters marched through the streets, their voices echoing a resounding message: Enough is enough and justice must be served.

"When we choose to remain silent in the face of an injustice, we are no better than the person committing it. Justice must be served for seven-year-old CweCwe," said Michael Mabasa.

Hundreds took to the streets of Pretoria in solidarity with Tshwane University of Technology students who asked that the #JusticeForCwecwe hashtag be changed to the perpetrator's name.

"The reason rape cases never end is that it's the names of victims that are being circulated and popularised instead of the perpetrators. Once the suspect appears in court, the hashtag should change to the principal's name and the school," said Mpho Maputla from the Garankuwa campus.

The growing momentum led to over thousands of women sharing their own stories of rape and the number of accounts left many shocked and disturbed.

"It's really shocking and unbelievable how children are being violated at the hands of the people who must support them. This situation is forcing black parents to start conversing with their children from the age three about sex and rape because if they don't know about sex they can never understand abuse and consent," said Wilson Mabunda from Hammanskraal.

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Rosinah Chokwe, a professional nurse from Jukulyn, emphasised the importance of justice and healing for victims.

"Justice is not only about punishing the guilty, but also about uplifting the victimised. May those who have been wronged find solace in the pursuit of truth and may justice be served," she said.

Modikwe Mmadiphoolo urged parents to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their children, advising them to regularly check for signs of abuse and seek medical attention if necessary.

"Parents, please. It doesn't matter whether the child was at school, with relatives or with family members, when you get home, check your child's private parts; if you see anything odd, take them to the clinic," said Modikwe.

The disturbing trend of rape perpetrators being protected and enabled is not limited to schools. Shockingly, some perpetrators have been known to move on to churches, where they continue to prey on vulnerable individuals under the guise of spiritual leadership.

Sabelo Ntuli, commander of the EFF Tshwane Crime Brigade said: "Churches have become a haven for rapists and abusers and it's time we take a stand against this evil. We will not allow the name of the Lord to be used to enable such heinous crimes."