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THE RAPE of a nine-year-old girl by two boys aged 10 and 11 in Masiphumelele on Friday, 4 April has sparked outrage and disbelief within the local community.

The girl was raped after being pulled into a house at around 15:00 on the day.

The case was referred to the Steenberg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS), which specialises in offences involving minors.

"Because of their young ages, the prosecutors declined to take criminal action. The children have been referred to social workers, who will be counselling both the victim and the alleged perpetrators on an ongoing basis," says Captain Adranita Abrahams of the Steenberg FCS.

Abrahams says the social wor?kers will emphasise the severity of the incident to the children and will also be in contact with their parents. She adds that repeat offenders will face prosecution.

Rodney Ndyalvan, a teacher at Masiphumelele High School and a coordinator at the Ubuhlangi Cultural Centre, says he is shocked at the incident. "I find it completely unacceptable. It gives Masiphumelele a very bad name," he says.

Isaac Duldula, chairperson of the Masiphumelele High School governing body, shares Ndyalvan's sentiments. "I am very shocked to hear that and we condemn such behaviour," he says.

Inspector Nkosikho Mzuku, communication officer of the Ocean View Police Station, says the incident is an isolated one. "This is not something that usually happens.

We have not had cases like this before. We would like to ask parents to be vigilant and know the whereabouts of their children at all times," he says.

Simon Noqhekwa, treasurer of the Masiphumelele Community Police Forum, also emphasises the need for parents to be vigilant over their children and teach them good values in life. "Sometimes we will catch children doing crimes and then we will take them to their parents and discuss it with them. Sometimes the parents don't want to listen and they get angry with us," he says.

Noqhekwa also added that sleeping arrangements at home could have contributed to the incident. "Some adults sleep next to the children at night and then the children may copy what they see going on," he says.

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