Social workers fail girl (12) allegedly raped by brother, mother claims

A 12-year-old girl from Mukekete village in the Tondoro constituency, Kavango West, reportedly received no professional psychological support after she was allegedly raped by her 20-year-old brother last Friday.The mother of the victim told Namibian Sun on Tuesday that her daughter remained at home the entire Easter weekend without receiving any medical care or trauma counselling.She also admitted that her daughter was only taken to Nkurenkuru District Hospital on Tuesday, four days after the alleged incident."They took her blood, gave her an injection and collected her urine – just for testing,” the mother explained.“But no social worker came to speak to my daughter, and the GBV Protection Unit was not informed either," she claimed. She confirmed that since the sexual assault, no mental health professional has met with her daughter, a situation that has left her deeply concerned for the girl's wellbeing.“To this day, no one has come to counsel her or talk to her about what happened. She’s not okay. My child is not in a good space, and she really needs help,” she said.Immediate action required Health professionals stress the need for immediate intervention in cases of rape.Shaun Whittaker, a clinical psychologist, told Namibian Sun yesterday that medical tests are a priority and must be conducted without delay.“The medical report is key to any rape case,” he explained. “My report as a psychologist is secondary. The medical exam must be done immediately – not the next day,” he advised. He added that while psychologists and social workers do not necessarily have to see victims on the first day, mental health assessments should follow as soon as possible to provide valid reports for court proceedings. “We need to see the victim for about six hours of assessment to compile a legally sound report,” he noted.When contacted for comment yesterday, Kavango West regional health director Franciska Hamutenya said she was not fully briefed on the matter and did not know whether the mother and daughter had reported directly to the hospital.However, she stressed that proper protocol must be followed in such instances.“If they were indeed seen by our staff, they should have immediately contacted the GBV Protection Unit or involved a social worker using the appropriate channels. They were not supposed to leave them just like that,” Hamutenya said.She added that she had reached out to the chief medical officer at the hospital and expects a detailed report by the end of the day to clarify what transpired.Meanwhile, when contacted yesterday, gender minister Emma Kantema-Gaomas referred Namibian Sun to the ministry’s executive director. However, attempts to reach the executive director for comment were unsuccessful. Prior to that, the regional gender office declined to speak on the matter.Alone and scared In a chilling account, the mother described how the incident allegedly unfolded. The mother, whose identity is known but withheld to protect the minor, is currently unemployed and raising her seven children alone after the death of their father."I was at a nearby shebeen, enjoying some drinks with friends, leaving my children at home," she said. "I never imagined that my second-born son would commit such a heinous act."According to her, the suspect, who dropped out of school in Grade 7 and now spends his time herding livestock, lured his sister into a mahangu field under the pretence of asking for oshikundu, a traditional drink."He pulled her away from where he was tending to the cattle, and that’s when he raped her," she claimed. The victim, a Grade 3 learner, returned home in tears after the assault, but her mother was not there to comfort her."When I came back late that night, I went straight to bed, unaware of the horror that had unfolded," she explained. It was only the following morning that her daughter mustered the courage to reveal the truth. "She told me, 'Mom, I was raped by my brother.' I was in shock," the mother recalled.Despite the gravity of the situation, the suspect reportedly played soccer at a nearby field after he had allegedly raped his sibling, his mother claimed. She sought advice from neighbours, who urged her to report the incident to the police."They warned me that if I didn’t act, he might do it again," she acknowledged. The suspect was arrested shortly after the matter was reported and appeared in the Kahenge Periodical Court on Tuesday, where he was denied bail. The case was postponed to 4 August for further investigations.

Social workers fail girl (12) allegedly raped by brother, mother claims

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-24

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Social workers fail girl (12) allegedly raped by brother, mother claims

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-24

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