By OBAKENG MAJE
A 22-YEAR-OLD boy is expected to appear at Vryburg Magistrate’s Court for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). This follows a boy seen on a video that went viral on various social media platforms, kicking a girl (16) impenitently.
North West police spokesperson in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sergeant Tryphosa van Rooyen said the incident took place at Huhudi Township near Vryburg on 22 November 2021 at around 6:45pm.
She said a case of Assault GBH was opened at the Huhudi Police station.
“It is alleged that the 16-year -old victim was at her parental home when she went outside to close the gate. The victim was met at the gate by the suspect who started to assault her.
“The suspect ended up kicking her whilst his friends were looking on. The victim managed to run into her home when the suspect was distracted. The suspect was arrested on 24 November 2021 and is due to appear in court soon,” said van Rooyen.
She said an investigation is underway to determine what the cause of the despicable actions was.
Meanwhile, the Young Communist League of South Africa YCLSA in Naledi Sub-District condemned the incident. The YCLSA Naledi Sub-District coordinator, Vuyani Mayedwa said: “We are saddened by the recent on-going circulating video of a young boy brutally assaulting a teenage girl.
“As the YCLSA, we would like to assure the community of Naledi that we’ll not rest until the victimised girl finds justice because it cannot be correct that in the mist of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves dealing with the arousal of another pandemic which is GBV.”
He further said the YCLSA challenges and condemns the barbaric behaviour of perpetrators of GBV as the country approaches 16 Days of Activism against Women and Children.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Social Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu and the North West MEC of Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa will join hands with Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in Swartklip.
North West MEC for Social Development spokesperson, Petrus Siko said the event forms part of Minister Zulu’s 16 Days of Activism Programme, which is commemorated from 25 November to 10 December 2021 under the national theme: “The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke-Moving from awareness to accountability”.
“The recent quarterly crime statistics released by the Minister of Police, Gen Bheki Cele show once again the unacceptably high levels of crime against women and children, with almost 10 000 people brutalised and sexually violated within a period of three months.
“Of major concern is that these violent crimes are perpetrated by people that survivors and victims know and trust, and happen in their own homes. The formal programme will be preceded by a walk against GBVF organised by Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine and ACT Now, a Non-Profit Organisation established by concerned men to fight the scourge of GBVF in South Africa,” he said.
Siko added that after the formal programme, Zulu and Moiloa will visit the bereaved family of the latest victim of GBV in Mabodisa Section, Moruleng Village. The victim’s mutilated body was recently found in a refrigerator in Soweto, Gauteng.
The Guardian 