Thousands of people in South Africa, including many in Newcastle, have taken to the streets to protest the lack of progress in investigating the rape of a 7-year-old girl from Eastern Cape. The girl, known as Cwecwe, was allegedly raped while waiting for transport home from school. Despite six months passing, no arrests have been made, sparking widespread outrage.
Cwecwe’s mother shared details of the incident on social media, revealing that her daughter returned home late from school on 14 October, complaining of stomach pain and difficulty walking. Blood stains were later found on her tracksuit trousers, leading to a doctor’s examination that confirmed the alleged assault. The child reportedly told her parents that she was told to sweep a classroom by the school caretaker while waiting for her transport driver.
In response to the incident and lack of progress in the investigation, protests were held in Johannesburg and Matatiele, Eastern Cape, as well as in Newcastle. The Newcastle Municipality and the women’s caucus organized a march to condemn gender-based violence and child abuse, led by Speaker of the Council Thengi Zulu and Chief Whip Zweli Nxumalo.
At the march, Zulu emphasized the municipality’s commitment to creating a safe environment for residents, particularly women and children. Councillor N.C Dube urged collective action to combat gender-based violence and child abuse, demanding concrete actions from the government to prevent such crimes. Dumisile Cele, CEO of Childline South Africa, stressed the need for swift action in the legal system to ensure accountability and deterrence in child abuse cases.
Newcastle has witnessed several cases of child abuse, including recent convictions for rape. In one case, a 58-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a 6-year-old girl in Osizweni. A 31-year-old man was recently sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of raping a 10-year-old girl on two separate occasions in December 2020 in Osizweni. Last month, the Madadeni Regional Court sentenced a 42-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping a 14-year-old girl multiple times between October 2022 and October 2023.
Speaking at the march in Newcastle Zulu said: “As a municipality, we are resolute in our commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for all residents, particularly women and children. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous crimes of GBV and child abuse, and we demand justice for all victims. The recent case of 7-year-old Cwecwe highlights the urgent need for collective action to address the alarming rates of GBV and child abuse in Newcastle.”
Representing the Amajuba District Municipality Women’s Caucus, Councillor N.C Dube said: “We urge all sectors of society to join hands in combating this scourge. We demand that our government, at all levels, takes concrete and decisive action to prevent GBV, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable. Unfortunately, Cwecwe’s case is not an isolated incident. Newcastle has also witnessed various abuse cases and femicides, both reported and unreported. As Newcastle we demand justice for all victims, including Cwecwe, and we call for concrete actions to prevent such heinous crimes.”
CEO of Childline South Africa Dumisile Cele said: “While we acknowledge the importance of allowing the South African Police Service the necessary time and space to conduct a thorough investigation, justice must not be delayed. Prolonged legal processes have historically weakened conviction rates in child abuse cases, often denying survivors the justice they deserve. The legal system must prioritise swift action to ensure accountability and deterrence. The persistent prevalence of violent crimes against children in South Africa is deeply concerning. Schools and other environments meant to nurture, educate, and protect our children too often become places where their safety is compromised. This underscores the urgent need to strengthen our country’s Child Protection System.”
