ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has called out AfriForum for its decision to represent the principal of an Eastern Cape school who is alleged to be a suspect in the rape of a seven-year-old pupil.
AfriForum's private prosecutions unit is representing the school principal in the unresolved case of an incident that occurred in October.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Mbalula accused AfriForum of “shielding” suspects rather than protecting victims.
“We are outraged and deeply saddened by the brutal violation of a seven-year-old child in Matatiele,” Mbalula said.
“This abhorrent crime underscores the relentless scourge of gender-based violence that continues to plague our nation. It is a moral indictment of our society that predators still find refuge in institutions meant to safeguard children. More disgraceful is the involvement of organisations like AfriForum, who shield suspects rather than stand for justice.”
He said there should be no race or politics at play in such a horrific moment, only ubuntu (humanity).
Thousands of South Africans, including the EFF, MK Party, and ATM, have condemned the alleged rape, demanding justice for the victim.
The police have reassured the public that investigations into the case are under way. Mbalula urged for swift action and the arrest of those involved.
“Enough is enough; we will not rest until every woman and child in South Africa is safe from such despicable acts. We are very happy that South Africans, black and white, stood together in denouncing this act.
“The constitution and the laws of this country have been strengthened. If you get arrested for rape you are not entitled to bail. These animals, the law must grind. We need to deal with them harshly in terms of the law. A normal person can't rape a seven-year-old, that's an animal. AfriForum then goes and defend such people is beyond animals, it's cannibalism.”
The unit has been accused of protecting the principal after he denied submitting his DNA samples to the police as one of the three suspects. However, AfriForum spokesperson Barry Bateman dismissed the allegations.
“He is not a suspect in the rape case involving a learner at the school, nor have the SAPS ever regarded him as a suspect that would justify their request for a buccal sample for DNA testing,” Bateman said. “It is the unit’s understanding that he had no contact with the victim before the offence being committed nor is there any evidence that the offence took place on school grounds.”
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