If media reports that quote experts are to be believed, the 7-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in the Eastern Cape by an official at a school she attends is to be raped again, this time by the justice system which, regrettably, is a common occurrence in this society.
Rape victims have the system so loaded against them that it is almost useless to try and bring these evil perpetrators to justice.
This is because these reports indicate that the alleged rapist, who is shamefully supported by a so-called civil organisation, has refused to provide his DNA; consequently, he is on solid constitutional ground and may evade justice.
Without pre-judging issues, it is just very suspicious that somebody innocent can invoke a ''right'' not to cooperate with the police when they investigate such a heinous crime.
If this horror scenario is accurate, then we must admit that South Africa is not serious about this epidemic, and our vulnerable children can never be safe from sexual predators who are masquerading as educators.
And If the police and the NPA are serious about eradicating this epidemic, they should challenge this seemingly abhorrent constitutional precept that protects a potential criminal from the law, presumably based on his ''constitutional rights. They should promptly lodge a case to compel this man to submit to a DNA test so that South Africans can know whether the courts will agree.
If they do not take action, the numerous civil society organisations in this country must step in decisively by bringing this man and this so-called ‘civic organisation’ to court.
Dr Thabisi Hoeane
COD, Political Sciences Unisa, Pretoria