The rape cases of a 6-year-old boy and his sister, 7, both pupils at a Grahamstown primary school are being investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
The rape cases of a 6-year-old boy and his sister, 7, both pupils at a Grahamstown primary school are being investigated by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
SAPS in the Eastern Cape explained this by way of clearing the air. They said it was because this unit was represented by the police provincial media office that the Grahamstown branch of the SAPS was not able to respond to enquiries about the cases.
Earlier this month Grahamstown police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said although the case was still being investigated by local police, any queries regarding it must be dealt with by SAPS's Bhisho media office.
Any further enquiries on the alleged rapes must be forwarded to Lieutenant Colonel Sibongile Soci or Brigadier Marinda Mills, Govender told reporters at the time.
Grocott's Mail emailed questions to the provincial media office last week. In a reply received last Friday, provincial spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said all the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit fell under the jurisdiction of the provincial media and it was for this reason they had decided to communicate through their provincial media centre.
The SAPS has also indicated in our policy the need to establish provincial media centres in order to ensure a more professional and efficient approach in handling media matters, Soci wrote. Thus, when necessary, depending on the nature of the incident, a decision can be taken at that provincial media centre. The personnel would handle the media enquiries, and when necessary National Media Centre can take over media communication.
Soci said communications officials from local police stations would still be deployed to crime scenes and render the necessary media support. She said their comments on strategic and policy matters would, however, be overseen by the provincial office.
Regarding the rape cases, teachers reacted angrily last month to the naming and subsequent suspension of a fellow teacher in the attack on the girl earlier this year, suggesting this was detracting from the urgency of finding the rapist. The man named in the boy's rape case was said to be a caretaker at the school.
At this stage we would not like to comment any further on this case as it is indeed a very sensitive matter that involves very young children, Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Marinda Mills told Grocott's Mail earlier this month. We have not arrested any person yet and request the media and the public’s support and patience to ensure that a proper investigation is done before any statements are made. We are investigating charges of rape.
