Following the dreadful incident of an alleged rape of a two-year-old at a daycare in Newlands East a few months ago, another two-year-old girl was allegedly raped at a daycare in Sherwood. The parents are devastated and are demanding justice for their daughter. They are also raising concerns about the safety of children at daycare centers.
A family member revealed the horrific sexual assault incident on Twitter, stating that she is calling for the community to rally behind her fight for justice for her niece’s rape.
The incident is suspected to have taken place on Thursday, 22 August, and to date no arrests have been made. The family member has called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to provide an update on the investigation, and for the daycare center to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the children.
This incident echoes similar tragic cases that have occurred in other parts of the country, where vulnerable children have been subjected to abuse in supposed safe environments. In previous instances, such as the infamous case in Johannesburg last year, the lack of proper vetting procedures and inadequate supervision were identified as significant failings. These recurring issues highlight a systemic problem that demands urgent and comprehensive reforms to protect the most innocent members of our society.
The aunt wrote on Twitter that the incident came to light when the child’s mother found her sitting outside the creche alone, separated from her peers. “When she saw her mother, she immediately wanted to leave and said she was tired. She asked to go to the bathroom but had already soiled herself. While cleaning her, the mother discovered dried blood and blood clots on her private parts. The emotional agony and physical pain of the little girl was undeniable,” said the aunt.
She said that the mother was then advised to get a police letter describing the incident after the child was rushed to Addington Hospital. “ After obtaining the letter from the police, we had to wait for a gynaecologist who later said, after examining the child that there were ‘no visible bruises’. This response only added to our frustration,” the aunt added.
She said the incident was reported to the Sydenham SAPS and the mother had to recount the traumatic incident several times, under great emotional stress. “The police asked the two-year-old for a statement and she said that a teacher was responsible for her pain, a revelation that indicated a heartbreaking betrayal of trust at the daycare.
“We are now calling for the daycare to be closed and all staff involved to be held accountable,”said the aunt. The aunt added that the mother was shocked by the incident and had been left feeling helpless and vulnerable. He urged the SAPS to investigate the matter thoroughly and take appropriate action.
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, KZN spokesperson for SAPS confirmed that a case has been opened. “Sydenham police have opened a case of rape following an incident in which a two-year-old girl was allegedly raped on 22 August 2024. The docket was transferred to Durban Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences for further investigation.”
Dr Nadia Bernon who is fighting for justice for the toddler who was raped in Newlands said that GBV activists that support rape victims and their families are often slandered, punished or silenced for advocating and being “whistle blowers” against GBV and sexual assault cases.
“As activists we are often subjected to cyber bullying and negative reactions from the local government service providers , especially SAPS officials that are not sensitised and well equipped to handle and adhere to the protocols when dealing with such reported cases. We need to call out the KZN Commissioner of Police to respond to yet another 2-year-old baby girl victim raped at a Creche’ in Sherwood, and case opened at Sydenham police station which has the same blue print to our recent case at a Creche’ in Newlands East where no arrest was made. Both families are going through the same horrific trauma experience from Addington Hospitals’ Thutuzela Care Centre district surgeon and local police stations.,” said Bernon
She said that the commissioners response on media on the Newlands East rape case is still not a vital reason for them closing the case, and yet there is another case three months later. “Sexual predators will now target 2-year-old girls at creches because police are failing to make arrests. The creche owners should be charged for negligence and demanded to say what happened to these littles baby girls while in their care. Police officials still insist on taking statements from a two-year-old baby , wanting them to identify the perpetrator is appalling. It shows officials have not been sentisitised to handle such fragile and traumatic cases.
Bernon said that the KZN Commissioner needs to respond on this case on national media . “The experiences of victims and their families that have been silenced by community and police officials reactions must not go unexamined, but be reported this at a provincial or national level andsomeone must be held accountable,” she concluded.
