By Nikita Chiniah
A Welbedacht mother whose daughter was raped in 2021 by her school transport driver finally received justice after the man accused was sentenced to life imprisonment, recently.
The mother, *Ahana Pillay said that her daughter *Mishka was raped on 8 March 2021.
She said: “After a week, she wrote a letter to me and told me what he did and she was scared. I showed the letter to my husband. He confronted the accused, Hayden Perumal. My nieces transported us to the hospital. We did the examination for her and all the tests came back positive therefore he was arrested. This ordeal has greatly impacted my daughter. She is now 13 years old. She was 11-years-old when the incident occurred. To this day, my daughter still faces trauma. She has been through a lot, but I am thankful that she is alive. She faced a lot of degradation from the accused’s family and I hope she can move forward in life. I am proud that she stood up for herself till the very end with all the grievances that my young daughter faced.”
Brigadier Ruth De Villiers, Station Commander of Chatsworth SAPS commended Detective Constable Mshengu of the Chatsworth Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for the sterling investigation conducted in the case of the minor who was raped in 2021.
After a year of court proceedings, accused Hayden Perumal, 47 was found guilty of rape and sentenced to imprisonment of one life term.
Communications Officer of Chatsworth SAPS, Captain Cheryl Pillay said, on 8 March 2021, Perumal was hired to transport school children from a primary school in Chatsworth to their homes.
She said: “On this fateful day, Perumal drove his motor vehicle to a remote banana plantation where he had sexual intercourse with the minor. The distraught child went to her home and wrote down this gruesome and violent act in her personal book.
“After two weeks, the minor had an emotional breakdown then informed her mother of her ordeal. The mother opened a case of rape at the Chatsworth Police Station. The docket handler, Detective Constable Mshengu arrested Perumal then placed him before the Chatsworth Magistrates Court on 25 March 2021. Constable Mshengu appeared before the court where he ensured that bail was denied. Citing previous cases where Perumal had been arrested however complainants did not follow through. Perumal was remanded to Westville Prison as he posed as a flight risk as well as the possibility of inflicting pain to other young children. With Perumal in prison, Cnst Mshengu gained the trust of the child to which only this brave young girl and himself presented evidence at the Durban Regional Court. On 22 June 2022, justice was finally served when Perumal was convicted to life imprisonment.”
Brigadier De Villiers said that Chatsworth police will continue with after-care for the young victim of rape.
She said: “My heart feels warm knowing that Constable Mshengu, who is a young constable was able to take this young child into his confidence and give her support throughout the court hearing. He has displayed that a young man in the organisation is capable of excellence coupled with brotherly love can offer care to a complete stranger to ensure that sexual predators face the full might of the law.”
Tootsie Francis of SA Outreach and Emergency Services said that they welcome the outcome of the case.
Francis said: “Justice has prevailed. Our brave young survivor is a hero in our eyes for standing up and speaking out. We did a ‘Stranger Danger’ and ‘My Body is my Body’ talks with each and every class in the school she attends. We urge all young children to speak out to teachers, mum’s dad’s or anyone that they are comfortable with. We taught them a code, I love Simba. Using the code will indicate to the teacher or family member the child is in trouble and needs their assistance. We are making a humble plea to parents to be more vigilant when it comes to their children, who they join, which lift club they travel with, the whereabouts of their children and social media. Parents need to become friends with their children and educate them on how to protect themselves. They also need to be schooled on what to do if they are accosted by strangers or anyone that makes them uncomfortable.”
Schools or parents who need assistance in educating their children on ‘Stranger Danger’ and ‘My Body is my Body,’ they can contact Tootsie Francis on 063-405-2422 or Thevan Dhavraj on 073-226-5657.
*Note: The names have been changed to protect the identity of the minor.
