Childporn granddad 'only wanted to help'

2010-12-14 14:41

Pretoria - The 58-year-old grandfather accused of involvement in a child pornography ring told the Pretoria North Magistrate's Court on Tuesday he was a "good person" who had only tried to help his two foster children.

He said his foster daughter had semen on her clothing when she was first placed in their care in 2004. The girl was about 16-months-old at the time.

She had nightmares, was afraid of men and her first words were swear words. He suspected from the start she had been raped before she came to him and his wife.

According to the grandfather the girl started "playing with herself" and started touching the genitals of their foster son and grandson at an early age.

Numerous complaints to the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad Noord (CMRN, Christian Social Council), who placed the children in the couple's care, and the police were simply ignored, he said.

They even refused to accept "certificates" from a district surgeon who said the little girl had been molested and was "mentally disturbed". He felt he was being prosecuted for having confronted the CMRN, and vowed that his fight to get back his foster children was not over.

The Pretoria News reported on Monday that the South African Council for Social Service Professionals was investigating CMRN social workers, who placed the children in the couple's care.

The grandfather, his wife and six of their relatives were arrested earlier this month on charges of sexually abusing children, grooming children for sexual acts and manufacturing and possessing child pornography.

They are seeking bail, which the State is opposing.

The trial continues.

- SAPA