• Police say Cwecwe’s mother has twice refused to let them or social workers speak to her.

• The girl’s mother says she’s still fragile and unwell, and that police gave short notice.

Police say they haven’t been able to speak to seven-year-old Cwecwe, the child at the centre of a rape case in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.

Deputy national police commissioner Tebello Mosikili told Parliament on Tuesday that the girl’s mother would not allow police to take her statement.

Social workers also haven’t been able to offer the girl support, Mosikili said.

Although Cwecwe got help shortly after the October 2024 incident, she was meant to receive continued support so she could later help identify the rapist.

The slow progress in the investigation led to national protests last month after Cwecwe’s mother spoke about the incident in a podcast.

Mosikili said Cwecwe’s mother blocked police and social workers from speaking to the child last week. She also turned down support for herself.

Mosikilli said this has caused more delays in the investigation.

But on Facebook, Cwecwe’s mother explained that her daughter has been unwell, often complaining about stomach pain. She asked the social worker to wait until the child felt better.

She said the child is still “fragile” and that police gave very short notice when they wanted to meet.

“I told them that she was not feeling well and that we had just come back from the paediatrician. We were expecting a call from the doctor to bring her for admission if they found something as they had drawn blood from her,” she said.

Police revealed that the family has since moved to a safer location, after telling Scrolla.Africa they felt unsafe in Matatiele.

In response to the protests, police appointed Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele, head of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Investigations Unit, to lead the case.

Mosikili said 30 statements have already been collected, including from Bergview College staff, medical professionals who treated Cwecwe, children who were with her around the time of the incident and some relatives.

Pictured above: A group of people march against gender based violence against women and children.

Image source: Facebook