'Molester crèche' can't be closed

2009-03-19 09:58

Virginia Keppler

Pretoria - The State can do nothing about the Pretoria crèche were a 4-year-old boy was allegedly indecently assaulted.

The Department of Social Services on Wednesday sent welfare workers to the pre-school in the Moot area.

Department spokesperson Fred Mokoko said the crèche was not registered with the department, as the law did not require such registration at this stage.

"Should we find something wrong in our investigation, we do not have the power to close the crèche as there is a pending police case. We may work with the police."

Mokoko said the department would also contact the complainants to support them.

Children's Act

He added that it is a pity the new Children's Act had not yet been approved, as it made it compulsory for anyone taking care of a child or running a crèche or day care centre to register with the department.

Mokoko said the new law would give the department greater power to close crèches.

A decision would be taken shortly about the possible arrest of the crèche owner's husband.

The investigating officer had already discussed the case with the senior state prosecutor, said provincial police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini.

"The State prosecutor is now waiting for the psychological reports about the children before taking a final decision."

According to an informed source, the reports should be completed by the end of the week. Three children had made statements to police about the alleged incidents. The parents of one of the children, a 4-year-old boy, said they were glad to hear something was happening in the case after he was allegedly assaulted on February 13.

Beeld visited the crèche on Wednesday. The owner said she was only aware of one boy, on whose behalf a charge had been laid with police.

"I don't know about any other children. Police also questioned me only once."

When asked about interviewing her husband, the owner she was "not up to seeing my husband's name being dragged through the mud".

She was polite, even though she accused the police and Beeld of "cheap sensation".

Beeld may according to law not publish the name of the school as it may identify the alleged perpetrator. The law specifies that an accused in sex-related cases has to plead first before he or she may be identified.

- Beeld