Suspects arrested for teenage girl’s alleged torture with hot iron over ’stolen weave’
|Published
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Cape Town – A 13-year-old girl left with iron burns all over her body after she was accused of stealing a weave is slowly recovering at home.
The teen was burned with a hot iron in the Kiki informal settlement in Gugulethu on Friday, allegedly by youngsters who accused her of stealing a weave.
She has iron press marks across her face, back, chest, stomach, arms, legs and feet after the torture.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said four suspects, aged between 18 and 22, were arrested, while a fifth suspect is on the run.
“Four suspects (two men and two women), aged between 18 and 22, were arrested for assault (to do) grievous bodily harm and will appear in court once they have been charged,” said Rwexana.
Residents helped lead police to the suspects.
According to sources, the suspects continued to burn her after she told them she did not steal the weave, and had no idea who did.
Her mother, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the minor, said the suspects had continued to traumatise her after the assault on her daughter.
“She could not move or do anything because she was swollen all over her body. I had to treat her.
’’During the week, the suspects came to my place looking for her and threatened to continue torturing her.
“They took advantage because they could see my health is not good, that’s why they have the guts to come to my house and threaten my child.
“This has also put my life in danger because I don’t know what they may do to me when they don’t find her. Her younger sister has relocated to another area because they also have threatened her,” said the mother.
Gender-based violence centre (GBV) Ilitha Labantu’s outreach and legal officer, Nombeko Leputhing, said the organisation would assist the family.
“We received this case from the Gugulethu Women’s Forum and Gender-Based Violence Organisation in the community. We immediately went to the police station.
’’Luckily, when we arrived, the parent of the child was there to open a case. Working with the community and police officers, the four suspects were arrested, the fifth one is yet to be arrested.
“As Ilitha Labantu we will get accommodation for the family because the mother is not in good health and also they are under threat. We condemn the incident and we want the perpetrators to be in jail and face the consequences,” said Leputhing.
Anyone with information can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.
Cape Times