HENDRINA – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Steve Tshwete Municipality took to the streets in a show of support for the family of a six-year-old rape victim.
The party held a peaceful picket outside the Hendrina Magistrate’s Court, where the accused — a 26-year-old man — made his first court appearance.
The suspect, alleged to have raped the young girl in Rietkuil on April 3, 2025, has since waived his right to apply for bail and opted to remain in custody. It also emerged during the court proceedings that the accused intends to apply for asylum through the Department of Home Affairs.
The case has been postponed to June 13, 2025.
“No child deserves to go through such a horrific ordeal,” said Ammelia Struwig, Democratic Alliance Women’s Network (DAWN) representative in the municipality.
Struwig described the turnout at the picket as strong and united, stating that not only DA members were present, but members of other political parties and community organisations also participated.
“The message we wanted to send was clear: ‘Enough is enough. No more silence.’ Women and children in our communities deserve better protection,” she emphasised.
Residents of Rietkuil also came out in large numbers, demonstrating their outrage and grief.
“The incident has deeply affected the community. Their response toward the DA was positive, and they appreciated all organisations standing in solidarity,” said Struwig.
According to reports, the child was sexually assaulted after being sent to a local spaza shop by her parent.
The DA has announced plans to engage the municipality’s community safety portfolio to initiate a comprehensive oversight programme targeting local spaza shops and other identified high-risk areas.
“The key focus is to empower parents and children not to remain silent. We aim to raise awareness about recognising signs of abuse, encouraging open communication, ensuring support and advocacy, and understanding legal rights and reporting procedures,” Struwig said.
Commenting on the suspect’s intention to apply for asylum, Struwig stressed that justice must take its course.
“Rietkuil currently has no police station or satellite office. Residents rely on police from Hendrina — 30 kilometres away. This delay in response puts the community at great risk,” she explained, noting that the DA is writing to both provincial and national authorities to address the lack of police presence in the area.
The party also pointed out that it has implemented several policies at national level to protect vulnerable groups. These include a sexual harassment policy and an anti-bullying strategy in the Western Cape, which specifically focus on safeguarding children.
