Family members of assaulted 11-year-old want justice to be served.
A 29-year-old Welbedacht woman and her 25-year-old boyfriend appeared at the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 August, after allegedly beating up her 11-year-old sibling who is currently hospitalised.
The accused, Natlene Bianca Moonsamy and her boyfriend, Asif Sheik were remanded into custody until 28 August for a formal bail application.
Captain Cheryl Pillay, communications officer for SAPS Chatsworth, said: “On Saturday, 19 August, Chatsworth FCS arrested two suspects. It is alleged that on 11 August, an 11-year-old child was admitted at a local hospital with injuries. On 12 August, police opened a case of Assault GBH and Contravention of the Child Care Act. The two accused are family members.”
Second sister of the accused, Natalia Moonsamy, who rushed her little sister to hospital in a critical condition, said that she wants justice to be served for what has happened to her baby sister.
“After seeing my sister’s condition, I felt heartbroken. I also noticed multiple old scars on her body and it was extremely sad as I was unaware of what she has been going through this entire time,” she said.
Tootsie Francis, director of SA Outreach and Emergency Services, said: “As a gender-based violence team, we will not rest until justice is served. It is time that the community stand together and remember that it takes a village to raise a child. Tomorrow it can be your child, so it is time that we take a stance and act quickly.”
Neighbour, Brenay Kelawan, who assisted police in securing the alleged accused until they were arrested, said that no stone will be left unturned and the accused should face the full wrath of the law for the horrible things that were done to the child.
“We also found out that this child was allegedly being held hostage and not even sent to school. We thank God that we managed to save this child before she lost her life. The perpetrators must suffer the consequences for their actions,” Kelawan said.
Moulana Dawood Kajee, a community activist in Welbedacht East, said that he wants justice to be served for this innocent child.
“This behaviour is not acceptable. There are many who hide the truth. I also believe that the father of the child is on the run. If he is innocent, then why is he running away? He needs to be caught and questioned as well. We need to look into the matter of children not going to school as their caregivers or parents are collecting child support. If this is how the government is going to look at it, by giving people money and children are not getting educated, it is wrong. Our late former president speaks of education being the most powerful weapon, which can be used to change the world, yet children are denied this right,” said Moulana Kajee.
Community member, Shaida Ali, added: “We need justice to prevail as one innocent child abused is too many. All the people who have contributed to the abuse or knew about it should face the consequences.”
