Team hunting 'dog-rape' teen
2003-08-28 15:33
Johannesburg - The Gauteng social services department is to set up an independent task team to investigate why a child reportedly forced to have sex with a dog by her employers has gone missing.
On Thursday, MEC Angelina Motshekga told reporters in Johannesburg: "The child was in our custody so we are the ones who lost her.
"For this reason, we are appointing a team to investigate. The main thing is to see how we went wrong."
The team, which has 14 working days to report on its findings, will include two representatives from independent organisations outside the government.
Media reports claiming police found out about her disappearance only 24 days later were incorrect, said Motshekga. The matter was reported to the police on the day she absconded.
The section of the department dealing with children was also aware of the matter.
Motshekga found out about the girl's disappearance last week when she asked about the progress of court preparations.
The case made headlines earlier this year when a 24-year-old Taiwanese man and his 26-year-old sister were charged with forcing the 15-year-old child to have sex with a dog as a punishment.
Hasn't been kidnapped
She was put in the care of the social services department after a court hearing.
The girl, who is due to testify next Wednesday, September 3, ran away from a government place of safety on August 2.
"We know she is alive and has not been kidnapped," said Motshekga.
The girl was last seen in Berea, Johannesburg, and the department has been able to track some of her movements.
"We have to go to court with her on Wednesday, which is her biggest fear," Motshekga said.
"The child couldn't take the pressure around the case. The last time we went to visit her with the media she broke down afterwards and took a long time to recover.
"She was feeling too crowded. She didn't want people to talk about it (the case).
"From the report I have received, it was quite clear she was not coping... with the publicity and the pressure of the court case."
The girl had both an external and an institutional social worker, who worked as a team to counsel her and she had been receiving "intensive counselling", said Motshekga.
According to their reports, the child was suicidal. She had "been on a rollercoaster and looked depressed at times".
Before she disappeared, she was at a point where it was thought she had stabilised.
"She had asked to help clean in the kitchen and to do errands. Actually, that is how she managed to run away," said Motshekga.
Want to keep case on track
Vusi Madonsela, director-general of the national department of social development said: "If the girl isn't found by Wednesday, the State will ask for a postponement of the case.
"There is no indication (the child) is not interested in the case. She does not feel that anyone has the right to do what she says was done to her.
"We want to ensure it (the case) remains on track. The worst-case scenario would be that the charges were dropped. But the case could be reinstated as soon as she's found," he said.
Margot Davids, director of social work services, said intermediary applications had been done which might allow a social worker to present the child's testimony to the court.
However, it was not clear whether this would be accepted by the court or not.
Motshekga said there were plans to pressure the police, bring the child protection unit on board and possibly hire private investigators to find the teenager.
The teenager had absconded twice before. The first time she was gone for only a weekend, before turning herself in. This was after the media has visited her.
Had little contact with family
"We put lots of counselling and support in place," said Motshekga.
After absconding for a second time, for two days in July, she was placed in foster care, but she "asked to come back".
"The child experienced her placement as extremely frustrating and limiting her movements," said Motshekga.
"We thought it would be easy to find her. It was, the other two times. But, it's not as easy. That's why we're getting worried," Motshekga said.
The teenager had poor support systems and was apparently an orphan.
"She's had very little contact from her family and she needs them. She wants her sister and close people around her.
"One sister moves around a lot with her employer and it's not easy to track her down," said Motshekga.
She said the department was also considering clearing the court when the girl appeared. At her previous court appearance, the public support was "overwhelming".
The head of the institution where the child was placed had been redeployed to head office pending the outcome of the departmental investigation, Motshekga said.
- SAPA