Times Of Swaziland: GIRL (13) WITH DISABILITY RAPED, IMPREGNATED, DUMPED

GIRL (13) WITH DISABILITY RAPED, IMPREGNATED, DUMPED
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Sibusiso Zwane on 04/09/2024 19:14:00


MATSAPHA - A minor girl who has a speech and hearing impairment, was sexually
abused and dumped by unknown people at Mbhuleni, in Matsapha.
The girl, who is believed to be aged 13, is pregnant. She was found by a woman
on Monday night. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the girl,
purportedly contracted sexual transmitted infections (STIs). The woman who made
the shocking discovered, said she found the girl sleeping in her rented flat,
having entered through an unlockable door.She said when she tried to talk to the
girl, she discovered that she has a hearing and speech impairment.
Neighbours
The woman said she then approached her neighbours and informed them about the
discovery. She said they tried to talk to the girl using simple Signs Language,
and learnt that she had been dumped on the street by a man on Monday afternoon.
She added that she also tried to point to the direction she came from with the
man, but they could not make sense of what she said. She said as they examined
her closely,  they suspected that she was pregnant and since she was dirty, they
decided to bathe her. As they were bathing her, she said they discovered that
she had signs of sexual transmitted infections (STIs), as she had ulcers on her
private parts.
In the morning, she said she gave her some clothes and they took her to Mbhuleni
community police, who then called members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service
(REPS).  When this publication visited the girl at the Mbhuleni community police
workstation yesterday afternoon, she was found sitting under a tree, together
with some community members, who were concerned about her plight. The community
members bought her a one litre of banana flavoured Mahewu. She was wearing a
pair of emabhova (crocs), a blue pair of pants and a jacket, which she was given
by the woman who found her. She stared in one direction as the community members
spoke to her.
However, when the community members and community police spoke harshly about
what they suspected had happened to her, she would briefly smile and continue to
stare away. The community police suspected that she was hearing them a little
bit, but the challenge is that she could not respond. They noted that her Sign
Language was poor, which made them believe that she never went to school.
One of the community police members, said since the house in which the girl
entered and slept, was once occupied by an elderly woman, maybe she was her
grandmother. His reasoning was that this could be why she chose the house.
However, he said the challenge was that the elderly woman had left a while ago
and it would be difficult to trace her.On another note, the concerned community
police member, who said they were coming across such a case for the first time,
said they always encourage community members to take good care of their children
and always seek assistance from relevant structures and organisations if they
encountered difficulties.
They said yesterday afternoon, officers from Matsapha Police Station came and
took the child to the police station.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Senior Superintendent
Phindile Vilakati confirmed that there is a child who was found at Mbhuleni and
the police were called to attend to the matter. She said the police have already
launched an investigation.