Matatiele – The police chief has deployed the top brass to “bolster and oversee” the ongoing investigation into the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl dubbed “CweCwe” in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.
South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced that he tasked the Component Head: Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Investigations (FCS) unit to bolster and oversee the ongoing investigation into the matter.
The FCS unit has 176 units across the country, and its investigators are responsible for investigating GBVF-related cases, electronic crimes, as well as sexual offences cases involving women, children, and vulnerable groups.
The move on Tuesday, (1 April 2025), was announced amid protests demanding speedy action against the alleged perpetrator.
The child’s mother has publicly detailed how the child arrived home late from school on 14 October 2024.
She said the first complaint of pain related to her anus and an urge to go to the bathroom was reported during a party attended by the community that evening of 15 October 2024.
The child woke up several times during the night due to the extreme pain she was suffering.
It was only on the morning of 16 October 2024, when the child could not walk, that the mother examined her child and discovered she had suffered extreme anal trauma.
The mother described the injuries to the child’s anus as her having a hole the size of the cardboard tube inside a toilet roll.
In a TikTok post on 20 February 2025, the mother graphically used a toilet roll to make her point.
According to the Daily Maverick the principal of Bergview College, Jaco Pieterse, has denied any involvement in the crime.
His AfriForum legal team insists that there is no concrete evidence linking him to the assault.
“Our client is falsely accused. We are confident that no evidence will emerge to prove his involvement in this incident,” said Advocate Gerrie Nel.
AfriForum said the suspicion surrounding the school, was created by the mother in her widely publicised version, in which she said her daughter was sweeping a classroom and fell asleep, only to be woken up later when the scholar transport arrived.
It is theorised that the extreme violence perpetrated against the child happened in this period while unconscious.
Amid a massive outcry from political parties, unions, and the public,
The FCS head, Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele was to meet with the investigating team to ensure due diligence was conducted in this case and that the chain of evidence was properly preserved.
Major Gen Lekhele was also scheduled to meet with, among others, key stakeholders such as the NPA to ensure justice and the finalisation of the matter.
“Bringing criminals to book and putting perpetrators of crime behind bars remains a key priority for the SA Police Service (SAPS),” said Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
“The SAPS assures the nation that justice will prevail and those who are found to be guilty of any offence will be brought to book.
“A comprehensive report will follow on the conclusion of the work of the team led by the Component Head for FCS.
“The SAPS also calls for responsible social media reporting on this sensitive matter.”
AfriForum said it has written a letter to the Matatiele Police Station commander to confirm that it acts on behalf of Pieterse and has not received a reply.
“Understanding that our client is neither a suspect nor an accused, we reiterate that we do not act as defence counsel but are representing him to ensure that he does not fall victim to an abuse of power or that of the social media detectives who make reckless allegations with little concern of allowing the authorities the space to establish the truth of the matter,” AfriForum said.
“We implore you to urgently intervene because the failure of the SAPS to properly investigate this case and provide meaningful feedback to the complainant has perpetuated an environment where false and defamatory allegations appear to have shifted the focus to the unjustified trial by media of individuals rather than establishing, analysing and collating the objective facts/evidence indicating what the offences are, who are the suspects and presenting such evidence to the National Prosecuting Authority expeditiously.
“Our client has no complaint with the treatment he has received from the SAPS, but we share his concern that a complainant directs an investigation while a social media campaign identified him as the perpetrator.
“The deafening silence from the SAPS has enabled an environment for disinformation to flourish.”
Afriforum added: “We will advise and assist our client to register case dockets of criminal defamation against those people who without any cause identified him as a suspect, rapist and even commented on his imminent arrest.
“We repeat our clients’ offer to comply with an official request by the police to provide a buccal sample should the SAPS, as part of the investigation, regard it as essential.”
However, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) National Women’s Structure accused the principal of refusing to facilitate DNA testing, instead offering the family a transfer letter, prioritising the school’s reputation over the child’s well-being.
“We are appalled by the alleged actions of the school principal,” said Nthabiseng Mashiteng, NUM Women’s Structure National Secretary.
”Protecting the reputation of an institution should never supersede the urgent need to ensure justice for a child who has suffered such a trauma. We demand immediate and decisive action.”
The NUM National Women’s Structure calls upon the Eastern Cape Department of Education to:
- Implement stringent measures to ensure the safety and security of all learners in schools across the province.
- Conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the alleged incident.
- Immediately expel the school principal from Bergview College. Furthermore, the NUM Women’s Structure implores the Department of Justice to:
- Issue a warrant of arrest for the individual implicated in the alleged rape.
- Demand that the individual provide DNA samples for testing.
- Ensure swift and decisive legal action to hold the perpetrator accountable.
