Men (60) rape girl (9), pay her E1

Both men are estimated to be over 60 years and they are beneficiaries of the government elderly grant – which is given to those aged 60 and above.

The girl is in Grade Two and stays at her parental homestead at KuMhlaba in the Shiselweni II constituency.

Her grandmother, *Jane Matsa, is a shebeen queen who earns a living by selling traditional brew (umcombotsi) to the public.

Both men are patrons at the drinking spot and residents of the area.

The girl, in an interview which was conducted through the consent and presence of her grandmother and aunt, said she had sex with the men inside a toilet, a rondavel house and in a forest next to the homestead.

She said these incidents happened after the men got drunk and would offer her E1 in return for sex.

"One of them used to follow me when going to the nearby river to fetch water and told me he loved me.

"In the first instance, he said I should have sex with him because I was beautiful and offered me E1. After he was done, we went back home together and he continued drinking. I had sex with him twice in the forest," she said.

Regarding the other man, who she is related to, the nine-year-old narrated as follows: "I was inside the rondavel to put back a container after returning from the river to fetch water and found him asleep inside, drunk.

"He told me to come closer to him before holding me tight. He then kissed and had sex with me."

She continued: "We used to do it even in the toilet and I would be given E1 which I used to buy biscuits and sweets at school. All these would happen in broad daylight without the other patrons noticing," she said.

Her grandmother confirmed that the man frequently slept at the rondavel when drunk.

"He often sleeps in the rondavel after getting drunk and in other instances he sleeps until the next day.

"I was shocked when I discovered he had turned my house into a sex den. I stopped them from going to the toilet after I got wind of the matter," the old woman said.

She further related: "I got to know about the matter after hearing other children making fun of my granddaughter. She later confessed and told us that the men gave her money.

"She also told us of a Grade VI boy with whom she had sexual relations on a rock in a forest. I want these men locked up for the pain they have brought to this family. I also checked the girl’s private parts and I could tell something was going on."

Last Friday, a team of officers from the Shiselweni Regional Education Office (REO) and Save the Children visited the family and interviewed the girl and grandmother.

The matter has since been reported to the Domestic Violence and Child Protection Unit at the Nhlangano Police Station.* Not their real names.

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