By Johnathan Paoli
The investigation into the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl at Bergview College in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape has encountered significant hurdles, with no foreign DNA found on the victim, a lack of witnesses and other complications making it difficult to secure conclusive evidence.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu addressed the media on Friday, outlining the complexities surrounding the case and the steps being taken to ensure justice was served.
Mchunu revealed that DNA tests conducted on the girl, known as Cwecwe, did not detect any foreign DNA, a crucial setback in a case of this nature.
“DNA testing was done on the victim as per standard procedure and the outcome was that no foreign DNA had been found. Three persons of interest have since emerged, and further DNA testing is under way,” Mchunu said.
The absence of foreign DNA complicates the investigation, as forensic evidence often plays a pivotal role in identifying and convicting suspects in sexual offence cases.
Investigators are now relying on additional forensic methods and further questioning to establish a clearer picture of what transpired.
Another major obstacle has been the lack of eyewitness accounts.
Without direct testimony, investigators were forced to rely on circumstantial evidence and forensic findings, which were proving to be inconclusive.
Recognising the challenges, the minister reiterated his deployment of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit, to lead the investigation.
“The investigation generally followed correct procedures, but challenges persist: no witnesses, the involvement of a minor and DNA results that do not offer a clear path forward,” Mchunu admitted.
The case has sparked national outrage, adding to growing concerns about the handling of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases in the country.
Over the past two years, more than 35,500 arrests have been made for GBVF-related crimes, with 4,500 convictions secured.
In the past week alone, 259 rape suspects were arrested, 95 of them in KwaZulu-Natal.
Despite the numbers, the challenges of gathering evidence, securing convictions and ensuring swift justice remain significant.
Mchunu acknowledged that while efforts have been made to strengthen investigations and training, more work was required to bridge the gap between reported cases and successful prosecutions.
The minister assured the public that authorities were fully committed to resolving this case and providing support to the victim and her family.
“Moving forward, we will be focusing more on the victim, providing psycho-social support in collaboration with the Eastern Cape premier’s office. We also urge the public to allow the investigators to conduct their work without interference,” he said.
As the investigation continues, the minister said he remained hopeful that additional forensic analysis and investigative leads would bring clarity to the case.
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