#JusticeForCwecwe Calls Continue to Rise Across the Country

(The Post News)– Since Cwecwe’s case came to the spotlight, South Africans have shown massive support, with #JusticeForCwewe gaining traction on social media. People have staged marches and filed petitions to demand justice for Cwecwe, a seven-year-old girl who was raped in October 2024.

Political parties, including the African National Congress (ANC), have come out in support of Cwecwe and other South Africans who are demanding justice for her and her family. The Secretary-General of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula has stated that they are “outraged and deeply saddened” by Cwecwe’s “brutal” abuse.

According to Mbalula, this heinous act highlights the pervasive problem of gender-based violence (GBV) that continues to afflict South Africa. He continued to express concern over the matter, asserting that it is a moral indignity to the society that predators continue to seek refuge in institutions designed to protect children; even more reprehensible is the involvement of NGOs such as Afriforum, that protect suspects instead of standing up for justice.

Mbalula emphasised that in such cases of “horror,” only “humanity—Ubuntu” matters, not race or politics. According to Mbalula, the ANC demands that all those responsible be arrested and prosecuted, and that the police take immediate and thorough action.

It is believed that Cwecwe was sexually assaulted on school premises at Bergview College, Matatiela, Eastern Cape, while she was waiting for her transport. According to her mother, the seven-year-old has no recollection of what happened to her; nonetheless, she recalls the smell of a burning tyre and feeling tired while sweeping a classroom.

Meanwhile, according to Senzo Mchunu, the minister of police, as of yet there are three suspects in the case, including the principal of Bergview College, Jaco Pieterse. Pieterse initially refused to give a DNA sample to the police; however, Mchunu reported that all three suspects had now provided their samples.

About the Author

Nomfundo Ngobese

Editor

An experienced journalist who believes that giving voice to the voiceless can lead to constructive social change. For me, journalism is more than just writing stories; it is about enlightening, educating, and entertaining people of all ages, rich and poor, literate or illiterate. As a news editor at TPN, my responsibility is to guarantee people encounter all of these features through well-written, properly structured, and easy-to-understand stories, while also ensuring that our agency adheres to the essential principles and values of journalism.

View All Posts