DPM’S OFFICERS TO PROBE RAPE CLAIMS AT ORPHANAGE

MBABANE – The Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office has unleashed officers to launch an investigation at an orphanage where rape cases between males are allegedly on the rise.

These cases, which shocked many members of society and raised eyebrows on why the relevant government offices were seemingly turning a blind eye to them, have been recorded in one of the highly regarded orphanages situated in the Hhohho Region.  Also, the police claim to have no records of sexual assault incidents from the said orphanage, much against the dictates of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act. The DPM’s Office was prompted to take action after similar cases were reported within the institution, but dealt with internally with the exclusion of law enforcers. This act is usually termed as ‘tibi tendlu,’ (matters that are swept under the carpet).

Dismissed

Recently, the orphanage dismissed a senior boys mentor after being found guilty of alleged sexual misconduct towards a male minor aged 17 years, who is an orphan staying at the establishment. He reportedly, on diverse occasions, invited the minor into his house situated within the premises of the institution and proceeded to sexually violate him. The mentor, who is aged 30, was facing a total of five charges and he was found guilty in all of them. The charges are misconduct/inappropriate behaviour, lack of integrity or professional misconduct and careless behaviour. He was found guilty after he was hauled before a disciplinary hearing.

The name of the orphanage and the senior boys mentor has been withheld to protect the identity of the minors. The orphanage is a non-profit making organisation whose purpose is to restore hope, equip lives and build families through Christ-centred community care and community enterprise as part of its contribution to the community. In the first count, the senior boys mentor was reported to have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with the minor who was under his care and mentorship within the organisation. He is alleged to have done this by repeatedly luring him to his bedroom and exposing himself to him in an explicit fashion and/or caressing him inappropriately.

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