No suspect identified to date in Cwecwe rape case

WHILE police dismissed accusations that the investigation into the rape of Cwecwe in Matatiele started only six months after the incident attracted the attention of the nation, they confirmed no suspect has been identified to date.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

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

Addressing the police portfolio committee yesterday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said the investigation started as soon as 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 Fannie 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.