Two 14-year-old girls are fearing for their lives, allegedly facing intimidation after they had opened cases of sexual assault against a police sergeant. The girls alleged that the officer inappropriately touched them and exposed his genitals at his home in Esnembe, Tongaat.
According to a victim’s parent, the two girls would regularly help their mothers at their respective places of employment. One mother was employed as a domestic worker at the accused police officer’s home. The girls alleged that on Sunday, 31 May they were at the police officer’s house when the unwanted sexual advances occurred. They fled the scene and confided in another parent, Nandi Mandanda, who reported the incident to the police.
Speaking to the Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid one of the victims recounted her experiences: “I was cleaning the kitchen while my mother was outside. He called me aside, opened his pants, showed me his penis, and told me to suck him.” When she refused his advances, she alleged that he verbally and physically assaulted her. “When I told him I’m not his age and that won’t do it he began shouting at me. Then he hurt me, threw me against the wall, and left.”
The victim’s friend also reported unwanted sexual advances from the accused: “While at his house helping to clean, he told me to pull up my shirt. Afraid, I did as he said. He started touching my breasts and my butt. I ran out of the room to find my friend’s mother. When I couldn’t find her, I took my friend and ran home to tell my mother what happened.”
Mandanda, who reported the incident said: “On 31 May at around 6.30pm my daughter and her friend came home and told me that the man in question had touched her breasts and tried to sleep with her. My boss, who owns a local salon, advised me to open a case, however, my daughter’s friend and her mother were nowhere to be found.”
Later it was revealed that the employee of the accused accepted R10 from the police officer as a bribe to not open a case. “Afterward, her mother said we are taking this too seriously and that it is not a concern. That if we go to the police, we won’t be able to run fast enough because he will catch us. Her poor daughter even tried to commit suicide by jumping into the dam. Fortunately, we were able to stop her,” said Mandanda.
Since opening the case, the victims and the adults who assisted in reporting the abuse were allegedly targeted and harassed by the accused. According to Mandanda’s employee, the accused tracked down his salon and began interrogating him about the incident.
He said: “He came to our shop in a police vehicle and came in asking for me. He began to ask questions about my business and if I had papers. He then asked if I knew the mother of the victims and asked if I had raped her. His questions did not make sense and I demanded to know who he was.”
“He refused to give me his name and instead, flashed his badge and threatened me before leaving. He returned a few days later. After informing him of the CCTV camera in my establishment, the accused left while hiding his face.”
When approached for comment the SAPS Tongaat referred us to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. IPID and the SAPS Provincial Communications Department were contacted for comment but did not respond at the time of print.
