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Drowned todder 'was sodomised'
03/01/2007 22:49 - (SA)
Norman Silke, Die Burger
Port Elizabeth - A three-year-old boy who drowned on Boxing Day was apparently sodomised over a period of time before his death.
This came to light on Wednesday when the police unit to combat family violence, child abuse and sexual assault confirmed that the toddler had been sexually abused.
Police spokesperson Captain Verna Brink confirmed the abuse but said because the child was a minor, his name and family details could not be disclosed.
The toddler was at home in the Framesby suburb with his divorced father, family and friends when he fell into the pool at about 19:00. His mother was not present.
Brink said the boy had been taken to Greenacres hospital by ambulance, and declared dead at 20:30.
He was buried on Wednesday.
It was claimed that there was an increase in child abuse over the holiday season.
But Pamela Rubushe, a social worker at the Dora Nginza hospital in Port Elizabeth, said the problem of children being raped persisted throughout the year.
"I have even seen a six-month-old baby that was raped."
"Last week, a 15-year-old mentally handicapped girl was raped by a family member," Rubushe said.
She said when children were raped, a family member was usually involved.
Dr Aydin Vehbi, the superintendent of Dora Nginza hospital, said the most prevalent form of abuse in the festive season was neglect.
"Many of the children that we see are malnourished and dehydrated and because of carelessness on the part of their parents, many of them suffer burn wounds," Vehbi explained.
He said children who were physically abused were also treated, but it was difficult to prove that this was caused by a parent.
Brink said family abuse often went hand-in-hand with alcohol abuse, but many cases were not reported to the police.
The victims were often persuaded by other family members not to pursue legal action.
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