A BITTER and sombre moment for Gauteng sisters who held a peaceful march at the Midrand Police Station on Wednesday afternoon, 20 December, for their younger sister (15) who was gang raped.
The Grade 9 pupil was allegedly gang-raped on Sunday, 17 December, by suspects in Waterfall.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the tragic incident.
“It's reported that the victim was attending a party in Midrand when the incident happened. The matter was reported to the police on Monday afternoon. Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit immediately attended to the victim.,” Masondo said.
He said after the case was reported police visited known addresses in efforts to trace the perpetrators to no avail, until three suspects aged 17, were arrested.
“Today, 20 December 2023, the police arrested one of the suspects at his residence in Joburg while the other two handed themselves over to the police at Midrand Police Station,” Masondo said.
It's your sons who did this.
A group comprising of teenagers, youngsters and mothers gathered outside the Midrand police station were chanting and pleading with drivers to support them against gender-based violence.
ALSO READ: Initiate deaths continue to rise
"How do you sit in silence and enjoy your December? It's your kids who are doing this, yet you protect them," one woman shouted.
One of the victim's sisters, a 22-year-old, said the incident left so much anger, heartbreak and pain in her heart.
“I'm extremely heartbroken. It's even more disheartening to see her in that state. I'm upset I have no words for them, but I feel like they were selfish and took her innocence away from her and they deserve to spend time in jail,” the sister said.
The woman said right after the incident happened, the girl confided to her family and told them what happened.
“She was hesitant to speak, at some point she was screaming and crying and that’s when we went to her and asked her what happened of which she told us.”
This tragic incident not only left a bitter taste in the family's mouth but also several mothers who gathered at the police station in support of the family.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Hope Moorosi (40), a mother to a 16-year-old girl, felt defeated by what happened.
“These boys hang out in the same spaces that my child lives in and for something like this to happen is just [terrible]. I feel like it could have been my child, and I’m here to show my support and that the law should take this seriously.”
The trio will appear before the Randburg Magistrate Court on Thursday, 21 December.
