Buhleni: Community of Ebulandzeni was left in dismay as a 42-year-old father of 6 girls is alleged to have sexually abused 3 of his children aged six, ten and 17 years when their mother was away.
The mother of the abused children, Sphiwe Nhlabatsi* not her real name said she now fears for her life and that of the children since she has been receiving death threats from the alleged perpetrator and her husband of 20 years Mavela Sifundza*.
Nhlabatsi say she hates herself for keeping the children’s abuse to herself for a long time as this would not have spread to the rest of them.
Narrating how it all started,she said it was her first born daughter who was infected with a Sexual Transmitted Disease(STI) at the age of three years. Nhlabatsi narrated that she would leave her husband with the children when going for a casual job(kukera), with the belief that they were safe with their father. She alleges that one day when bathing her daughter, she noticed that she had an infection in her private part and she (daughter) complained that she had pains in her vagina.
” I noticed that something happened to my daughter but I didn’t suspect my husband to be the perpetrator. I then took her to the clinic, where she was treated for the STI. But I kept it to myself because my child failed to tell me what happened to her.” Narrated Nhlabatsi*.
As if that was not enough, it is alleged that again the second born was sexually assaulted, but innocently told her mother what her father did to her.
“This time around my second born told me that babe ufake sigodvo sakhe lakimi,in the presence of my husband. My husband thrashed her for saying that and that left me with suspicion. This then reminded me of the infection that my eldest daughter had”. She added.
It was then that she decided to report this to her aunt laNgwenya, who reside at Nkamanzi. Nhlabatsi said laNgwenya quickly called the husband’s siblings for a meeting but the siblings down played the matter as tibi tendlu.
Nhlabatsi* got a shock of her life again when her fifth born, who was three years old also got infected with an STI. She again asked her what happened and her little three-year-old baby told her that her father raped her.
” She said her father told her to remove her pants and jump to bed and that her father rubbed her stick in her vagina. Again I took her to hospital for treatment and never reported the father as he was being protected by his family.” She said.
Nhlabatsi* said after some time, she felt the pain that her children were going through and decided to report the matter to the Buhleni police. She claims that she explained what her husband did to her three kids but only one of them was taken for doctor’s examination. She said that’s how her husband was finally arrested.
The husband Mavela Sifundza*, when interviewed denies ever sexually abusing his children but blames his wife for being jealous of his affairs.
“My wife is trying to get back at me because I was having an affair with another widow in the area, which angered her. I never abused my kids. As of now I’m not allowed access to my home and I stay with the widow.” Says Sifundza*,claiming his innocence.
A neighbour who preferred anonymity said she was shocked by such news especially because Simelane’s children are all girls. The neighbour said the law should take its course and protect children from perpetrators.
Sifundza* is currently out on E50 000 bail
The names used are not their real names to protect the minors
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