The pain and horror of being a rape survivor is unimaginable, it takes immense time and courage to heal from the emotional and psychological scars. But even more heartbreaking is the thought of a young child enduring such suffering. Recently, devastating news broke: someone assaulted Cwe Cwe, a seven-year-old girl from Matatiele, Eastern Cape, at her school, Bergview College—a place that should have been a safe haven for her and every other child.
Reports say that someone sent Cwe Cwe to clean her classroom by herself while she waited for the bus to arrive and take her home. While cleaning, she got tired and “passed out” until the caretaker woke her up when the bus arrived. The little girl stated the last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the smell of “burning tires”. Someone drugged her, possibly with Phencyclidine (PCP)—a substance known for its distinct burning rubber smell and its ability to render a person unconscious.
It’s important to note that this incident didn’t just happen—the victim’s mother recently shared her heartbreaking story on a popular podcast, revealing that the assault occurred on October 14, 2024. She also disclosed that she, too, is a survivor, which is why she’s fighting relentlessly for her daughter. Instead of offering support, the school’s principal, FJ Pieterse, reportedly sent transfer letters and even expelled the child. This action prioritized the school’s reputation over justice.
In response, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has deregistered the school. Authorities have named the principal, along with two other individuals, as suspects. Investigations are still ongoing. The authorities requested DNA samples from the suspects as part of the process. They planned to compare these samples with the ones found on the victim. While the other two have complied, the principal has yet to submit a buccal sample for testing. The case has gained widespread attention, with over 229,815 people signing a petition demanding justice.
The inhumane act of rape has been something women around the world have been fighting against for centuries. Yet, every effort to diminish it has yielded little progress. Every day, we hear bone-chilling rape stories.; Gisele Pelicot, the 73-year-old French woman who was drugged and raped by her husband and over 72 men, 13-year-old Kiran who was gang raped in India and was still stigmatized by her community, the Sudanese women who committed suicide to avoid being raped, the baby rape in Botswana and even more that we do not know about because they weren’t reported.
According to the United Nations, 370 million girls and women alive today have been a victim of rape before they turned 18, and over 650 million globally if we consider the non-contact forms of sexual violence. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of victims, with 79 million girls and women affected (22 per cent). This is followed by 75 million in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (8 per cent), 73 million in Central and Southern Asia (9 per cent), 68 million in Europe and Northern America (14 per cent), 45 million in Latin America and the Caribbean (18 per cent), 29 million in Northern Africa and Western Asia (15 per cent), and 6 million in Oceania (34 per cent).
South Africa has one of the highest rape rates in the world. People report an estimated 500,000 cases each year. Of these, child victims make up 41%, with about 15% being under the age of 11. Dangerous myths—such as the belief that intercourse with virgins can cure HIV—likely fuel this crisis. Deeply rooted cultural misconceptions also drive it.
Perhaps the biggest reason we continue to fight this heinous crime without success is how society treats abusers. They roam freely, facing little to no real consequences—often nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, society often meets victims with blame and judgment: “Why were you there alone?” “What were you wearing?” In one case, a victim bravely reported her assault, only for a female police officer to sneer, “So you’re going to act like you didn’t enjoy it?”
This kind of response from society only deepens the victim’s trauma. It leaves them depressed, ashamed, and too afraid to speak out. And the more silent they are, the more vulnerable they become. This increases the likelihood that they will fall back into the same nightmare again.
Although Nigeria doesn’t rank among the countries with the highest recorded rape cases, insufficient data largely causes this. The most recent global statistics for Nigeria’s rape cases date back to 2013. Yet, stories of sexual assault frequently surface on social media and in conversations around us. This highlights that the issue is undeniably widespread across the country.
If we factor in the prevalence of child marriages in the North, the number of victims increases significantly. This is due to statutory rape, which involves non-forcible sexual activity where one of the individuals is below the legal age of consent—the age at which a person can legally agree to engage in such behavior. Essentially, it refers to sexual activities with minors, which compounds the already devastating issue of abuse.
Nigeria isn’t the only country grappling with a lack of data. India, for instance, is notorious for the extreme levels of this inhumane act, including necrophilia. However, due to the severe stigma and condemnation faced by victims in India, many choose not to report their cases. In many instances, perpetrators often silence victims even when they try to report. Sometimes, this happens fatally—before they ever get the chance to seek justice.
Authorities should impose stricter penalties on perpetrators. However, authorities often fail to enforce death sentence laws for rapists, even in countries where they exist. For instance, in the case of 13-year-old Kiran, who was gang-raped in India, her abusers were sentenced to just 25 years in prison—falling far short of true justice. Eventually, these criminals would be free and are likely to commit the crime again. Some time ago, Sonette Ehlers, a female South African doctor, invented and patented an anti-rape device called Rape-aXe. However, years have passed with no news of it entering production, let alone being available for public sale.
It’s devastating that those closest to rape victims are often their predators. That’s why it’s crucial to educate everyone—including boys, who can also be victims—and teach them to carry defensive items like pepper spray or tasers at all times. We should educate boys from a young age about the immorality and consequences of sexual assault in all its forms. This helps ensure they do not grow up to become predators themselves.
For more intriguing articles, check out this story of a hit-and-run driver who stayed, making calls instead of helping the victim and the Corper who was silenced by the government for speaking up @insidesuccessnigeria for more updates.
Leave a Reply