Child allegedly sold for sex by her mom

A 10-year-old Cape Flats girl was allegedly raped and sodomised within one month by three men, her neighbour said.

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Cape Town - A 10-year-old Cape Flats girl was allegedly sold for sex by her own mother.

The girl told police she has been raped and sodomised within one month by three men – her maternal grandfather, her stepfather and her mother’s friend.

The little girl was rescued by a neighbour, who said the child’s mother “sold her”.

The elderly woman claimed the girl’s mother and stepfather are both drug addicts.

“She was benefiting from this, I know it... She sold her child so she can buy stuff for her (tik) lolly.”

The girl, who is receiving medical care and counselling, told the Daily Voice that on every occasion she was raped, her mother would leave the room and tell her to stay with the rapist.

The neighbour said she felt sorry for the child because she would be sent out at “all hours of the day and night to go to the shop to buy cigarettes and beg people for food”.

She said she took the girl in five months ago. The girl slept by her at night, but went home during the day. The alleged sex attacks happened in September.

The girl said: “The first time was early in September. My mother left and told me to watch my stepfather. He got up to lock the door and smoked a [tik] lolly.

“He pulled me into the room and first touched me and then he put his thing inside me. It was very painful and I cried, but was so afraid. I told him to stop.”

The girl was too scared to tell her mother, “because my mommy always takes his side”, she said.

The girl said the second attack was at the hands of her own grandfather.

“My mommy told me to stay inside with my oupa (grandfather), she is coming now. My oupa (grandfather) went to lock the door. I said no, but he did not listen. He forced himself in me.”

“I felt very sick and scared.”

Two weeks ago, the girl said her mother’s friend was sleeping on the couch. Once again her mom told her to stay inside.

She said after the man raped her, “he choked me and said he was going to kill me because I was crying. Someone jumped over into our yard and that made him stop. I thought he was going to kill me.”

The neighbour said after this alleged attack, she suspected something was very wrong.

The woman said: “She just looked different and then she told me everything. I went to her school and the principal referred me to the hospital. (During the examination) the doctor started crying.”

Hugging her neighbour, the little girl said: “I am fine now. I am not afraid anymore.”

Constable Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed cases of rape are being investigated.

Daily Voice

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