A series of tweets narrated how two-year-old Zanothando was allegedly raped at a Durban creche. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
The EFF has condemned the alleged gruesome rape of two-year-old toddler, Zanothando.
This is after a series of tweets by Zanothando’s aunt, Nicole, narrated how the toddler was sexually assaulted last week at Emma’s Creche in Sherwood, Durban.
The kindergarten is an all-female teacher learning institution.
According to Zondo, the principal’s husband was present on the day of the incident, which suggests he may have allegedly raped the toddler.
“There are no male teachers at the creche, except the principal’s husband. When asked if she, Zanothando, was in pain, she said a teacher did it,” said Nicole.
These facts however could not be independently verified by sources.
The toddler could barely walk due to pain. Thus, Zanothando’s mother noticed that her daughter’s genitals had blood and dried blood clots.
“In the afternoon, her (Zanothando) mom found her sitting outside alone, while other kids were inside (class). When she saw her mom, she immediately wanted to leave, saying she was tired.
“She (Zanothando) could barely walk, constantly asked to be picked up because it was painful. At home, Zanothando asked to go to the toilet, but had already messed herself up. While cleaning her up, her mom noticed blood and dried blood clots in her private parts. My niece said it hurt and was sore,” said Nicole.
She said a gynaecologist examined Zanothando and claimed there were no “visible bruises”.
This is after the toddler was rushed to Addington Hospital, as a letter detailing the incident was required by the medical facility to attend to the patient.
Zondo said the police insisted on a statement from the toddler, after the mother had to recount the incident to multiple police officers, which was traumatic.
“Back at the police station, my sister had to recount the traumatic incident multiple times to different police officers. They insisted on getting a statement from my two-year-old niece, who was too exhausted to co-operate. The police have failed us by imposing their duties on a traumatised mother,” said Nicole.
National spokesperson of the EFF, Leigh-Ann Mathys, stressed the country had a flawed justice system, where its police continued to be negligent and insensitive to gender-based violence (GBV) victims.
She said: “This is not an isolated incident, but part of a systemic failure that prioritises bureaucracy over the safety and dignity of victims. The police are complicit in this violence by their negligence, allowing these crimes to go unpunished and leaving perpetrators free to continue their predatory behaviour.”
In the same advocacy with Build One South Africa (Bosa), the Red Berets are demanding for the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) to be published to deter future sex predators and paedophiles.
Such steps would significantly establish special courts that deal with GBV cases against women and children for quickened justice towards victims.
“These courts must be designed to deliver swift justice, without dragging victims and their families through a torturous process that only serves to re-victimise them.
“The EFF has long advocated for the opening of the Sex Offenders List, where the names and faces of those rapists who harm our children and women are made public. It is a disgrace that in a country plagued by rising violence against the vulnerable, we still do not have this basic protection in place,” said Mathys.
In this instance, Nicole and the EFF demanded the alleged perpetrator be swiftly charged and closure of the creche.
“Our family is devastated, and demands that the creche be closed and all teachers held accountable.”
The Star
hope.mafu@inl.co.za
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