Ten child victims get back their power
The victims aged between 8 and 12 years are finally putting the ordeal behind them, knowing the perpetrators who terrorised them will spend years behind bars
TEN schoolboys, who were victims of a horrific child rape shocker in eSikhaleni in January last year, are closer to gaining closure after their abusers received heavy sentences for their crime.
The victims aged between 8 and 12 years are finally putting the ordeal behind them, knowing the perpetrators who terrorised them will spend years behind bars.
While swimming at Injunga Dam outside uMkhobose Reserve, the victims were ordered by four male teenagers to strip naked before being brutally assaulted and forced to have sexual intercourse with each other.
Perpetrators were identified in a video which they recorded during the attack and which circulated on various social networks.
The offenders aged between 15 and 19 were arrested and charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and compelled rape.
The case was then moved to Empangeni Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
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Speaking to one victim on Tuesday, the youngster said he can now attend school without fear of being victimised.
‘I was so scared of going to school but my mother told me the boys who abused us will be locked in prison for a long time,’ he said.
‘Now I can go out and play with my friends without being afraid.’
The young mother of an 11-year-old victim who suffered the nightmare, said the community welcomed the heavy sentences which was handed down at eSikhawini Regional Magistrates Court.
‘The case had many delays which prolonged the terror but we are happy to finally put this chapter behind us. This incident will never go away but now our children can move on knowing these thugs won’t hurt them anymore,’ said a 30-year-old mother.’
With offenders granted different sentences between 10 and 20 years, a 38-year-old parent whose son was also among victims told the ZO the punishment will serve as an example to other criminals.
The community, including members of the community policing forum and other civil organisations, also welcomed the sentences.
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