Groutville family rejects livestock compensation for 8-year-old's sexual assault case

A Groutville family in KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is struggling to come to terms with the alleged sexual assault of their eight-year-old daughter after the family of the accused reportedly attempted to settle the matter through a traditional compensation offering.

The alleged perpetrator’s family is said to have proposed paying damages in the form of a cow, a goat and cash as a sign of atonement.

The alleged assault took place in mid-December, and it is claimed the incident happened at the home of the 17-year-old suspect while the child was visiting.

A relative of the victim, whose identity is being withheld to protect the child, said the family was contacted on January 2 by ward councillor Nkitimeng Mpanza, who informed them that she had been approached by the suspect’s family.

“The councillor said the family had asked how much we would require for the incident, and that amount would be sent together with a cow and a goat,” said the relative.

According to the family member, the councillor explained that the suspect’s family wanted to resolve the matter traditionally, saying they preferred that route because they were a traditional household.

The victim’s family then asked whether the two children were in a relationship, which would justify approaching the matter in that way. They rejected the suggestion, saying the child had been violated. The family believes the approach was intended to silence them and pressure them into abandoning the criminal case that is currently before the courts.

Tensions between the two families have since escalated following an arson incident at the suspect’s home. The victim’s family said they were later told that a bedroom at the accused’s house had been set alight during the night and that neighbours had rushed to put out the flames.

According to the victim’s relative, members of the suspect’s family later came to them and allegedly said:

“It’s on now, because the house that is burning is not the child’s, but belongs to old people.”

“We believe they are accusing us of being involved in the fire, even though we know nothing about it,” the relative said.

The family also claims there are rumours that the accused’s relatives want them removed from the area because they suspect them of being behind the arson.

The relative said the child remains in a serious physical condition.

“She continues to suffer from bleeding and was severely injured. We are still dealing with the trauma of what happened,” the relative said.

The case is expected to return to the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court today.

Councillor Mpanza confirmed she was aware of the case, saying it was reported to her shortly after the alleged assault occurred.

“I was informed that a bedroom at the suspect’s house had been set alight and I advised the family to report it to the police. I later found that they had already done so,” she said.

Mpanza said she also spoke to the victim’s family following the arson incident and they denied any involvement.

“They told me they had nothing to do with it. I also warned people not to use this very serious matter to create more division and animosity between the two families,” she said.

Regarding the offer of livestock and money, Mpanza said the suspect’s family had approached her, and she conveyed the proposal to the victim’s family.

“I relayed their response to the suspect’s family and told them that the victim’s family does not accept it. I also appealed to them to allow the matter to proceed through the courts,” she said.

The suspect’s mother, when contacted, reacted angrily and defended the proposal.

“Are you not Zulu? Don’t you know ukuhlawula igceke?” she asked, referring to a traditional ritual to cleanse a family through a compensation offering after a serious incident of misfortune or misconduct.

“We were not trying to bribe anyone. We wanted to perform a cleansing ritual for the child because of what happened to her, so that it does not happen again. But we have since abandoned it because we heard they don’t want it,” she said.

She confirmed that their house had been set alight but said they had not accused anyone.

“We are trusting the criminal justice system. A police investigation is underway,” she said before ending the call.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE