Claims of six-month delay in Cwecwe rape matter denied

THE police have dismissed accusations the investigation into the alleged rape of Cweewe at Matatiele in the Eastern Cape started only six months after the incident attracted the attention of the public.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

The 7-year-old was raped, allegedly on Bergview College premises, which is a private school.

Addressing the police portfolio committee on Tuesday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the investigation started as soon the case was reported in October 2024.

“What we can say about the investi-gation is that it was not started after the activism of the public,’ Mchunu said.

“To say it took six months for SAPS is to dangerously exaggerate what hap-pened. It can only serve to escalate distance between SAPS and the people and the community they are serving,” he said.

National police commissioner Fan-nie Masemola said the investigating officer and forensic social worker were involved in the investigation from the beginning, immediately after the case was registered.

Masemola also said his office had sent senior officers in April to rerun the investigation done by the local and provincial investigation officers and also check whether there were areas that needed further statements.

“It was not that the investigation started at that time,’ Masemola said in reference to his announcement in April when he sent head of the head of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit to reinforce the investigation and close any gaps.