VUWANI – In an effort to demonstrate sympathy to the victim of a heinous crime and to salute residents of Ha-Mutheiwana settlement who apprehended and handed over the man who had allegedly raped a minor to the Vuwani SAPS, the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Calvin Sengani, contributed R2 000 towards the victim’s trust fund.

Sengani handed over a R2000 cheque to the chairperson of Mutheiwana Youth Committee, Nthambeleni Matsheka, and his treasurer, Rabelani Ndou, during a press conference held at the Vuwani SAPS last Wednesday. Sengani, who responded swiftly after the media reports regarding the alleged brutal rape case of a 7-year-old girl, said: “ I was touched when I heard about the trauma suffered by the little girl, hence I was also challenged by the residents who didn’t take the law into their own hands when they apprehend the suspect. The solidarity demonstrated by this community when they established a trust fund to assist the victim with travelling and medical expenses led me and Area Commissioner Joseph Maepa to contribute R2 000 from our departmental funds.”

Sengani said that the Mutheiwana community is a shining example in the province by handing over the suspect to the police without first battering him and further focusing on looking how they can assist the victim by opening a trust fund that will cover the suffering that the little girl went through.

The chairperson of Mutheiwana Youth Committee, Nthambeleni Matsheka, who commended the giant step taken by the provincial commissioner, appealed to the gathering to support the girl. Matsheka said that young people are prepared to work with the Vuwani SAPS in curbing the criminal activities in his village.

The 7-year-old girl was allegedly raped and sodomised at Ha-Mutheiwana village a fortnight ago. The suspect is expected to appear before the Vuwani Magistrate court today, Friday, July 15,2005.