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A placard displayed at a march in solidarity with rape victims at the East London City Hall, Eastern Cape on April 2, 2025.
Masimanyane Women’s Rights International says it’s deeply concerning that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has decided not to prosecute anyone in the rape case involving a 7-year-old Matatiele girl.
The NPA says this is due to insufficient evidence.
Last month, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced that there were no witnesses or suspects and a medical examination found no foreign DNA on the little girl.
The organisation’s Farida Myburgh says this will further discourage victims of sexual assault from reporting to authorities.
“Something went wrong in the investigating process, and that mother that is there with her child and the child is traumatised; the child needs psychological support. The mother needs psychological support as well, and for us, it’s shocking because, at the end of the day, there are injustices that are apparent here in withholding this decision for several months. I must say that it’s deeply concerning. How will people go to the authorities with confidence or report to the NPA or police when they are raped if the investigations found no evidence?”
NPA drops 7-year-old girl’s sexual assault case due to ‘insufficient evidence’:
NPA spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga says the prosecutors assessed the contents of the docket and concluded that there was insufficient evidence for a successful prosecution.
Mhaga added that the police have resubmitted the docket to the DPP’s office for further consideration.
“There is no evidence of rape or sexaul assault after the minor girl was interviewed and examined by the medical health practioners and forensic social workers. We took a decision as NPA to issue a statement today (Saturday) in view of the public outcry and the interest generated in the matter, even though last year November when the decision was taken, no statement was issued.”
