The enraged protesters physically pulled on the gate of the school where a 7-year-old girl, whose mother reported she was sexually abused, demanding that the school be shut down and threatening to burn it down. These demonstrations in the small, picturesque town of Matatiele, South Africa — known for its cleanliness — have persisted since videos emerged of the mother, Thandekile Mtshizana, recounting her daughter’s sexual assault at Bergview College. The videos have garnered millions of views, making Cwecwe (the girl’s online pseudonym) the latest symbol in South Africa’s ongoing struggle against sexual violence, a battle to confront a culture of shame and silence. In rural regions like Matatiele, Cwecwe’s case resonates deeply.
A retail worker, Thapelo Monareng, who participated in the protest, stated, “This time, we say it cannot be business as usual. We are here to say enough is enough.” The police confirm the investigation is ongoing and sensitive, with no foreign DNA found on the girl’s body or clothes and no suspects as of yet. On average, 118 rapes are reported daily in South Africa, and more than seven million women over 18 have experienced physical violence at some point, according to statistics. Women’s rights activists criticize the government’s response, with over 61,740 rape cases and 5,523 sexual assault cases closed without resolution between 2018 and 2023.
Thabang Kuali, a traditional leader in Matatiele, noted the evolution from old penal codes to the current movement against rapes. He expressed hope that Cwecwe’s case can shift men’s attitudes. The school’s officials and the principal’s lawyer have not responded to comments. A lawyer for the school’s principal suggested that Cwecwe may have been assaulted in the community, not at school.
Despite the investigation’s inconclusiveness, Mrs. Mtshizana is determined to seek justice. She, along with Women for Change, led a march to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, petitioning him to declare sexual violence a national disaster. This would enable quicker funding and collaboration across government agencies. Mrs. Mtshizana shared her daughter’s story with the media and social platforms, recounting how her daughter initially informed her of the assault in October, yet the story only gained traction in March. She reported her daughter’s injuries after the girl came home from school with stomach pains and blood stains on her track pants.
Mrs. Mtshizana, herself a police officer, felt compelled to go public after feeling let down by the slow progress of the investigation. She connected her daughter’s suffering to her own experience of being raped at 20. She hopes for a better outcome for her daughter, who was previously a top student and loving sister but now is more reserved and draws broken hearts. Mrs. Mtshizana is committed to fighting for her daughter’s justice.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/09/world/africa/south-africa-rape-sexual-violence-cwecwe.html
