Written by: Dr Pearl Kupe
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Cwe Cwe is a seven-year-old girl from Matatiele, Eastern Cape, who was raped multiple times in October 2024, allegedly on the premises of Bergview School while waiting for transport. The incident was reported to the police in mid-October, yet six months later, no arrests have been made, and there has been little to no communication about the case’s progress. Allegations suggest that the police investigation has been inefficient, with significant delays in action, such as the investigating officer only recently taking witness statements and meeting with Cwe Cwe’s family. Additionally, it is claimed that the school has been reluctant to cooperate fully with the investigation.
National response and protests
The lack of action in Cwe Cwe’s case has recently led to public outrage. On April 2, 2025, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Johannesburg’s CBD to demand justice for the young victim. This march was part of a larger national movement, with human rights activists and civil society organisations leading protests across the country. The protesters in Johannesburg concluded their march by handing over a memorandum to the Department of Education, outlining their grievances and demands for justice.
A troubling pattern
Disturbingly, Cwe Cwe’s case is not an isolated incident. It represents a growing and abominable trend in some parts of South Africa. In 2020, the South African Police Service reported over 50 000
cases of child rape, a number that doubled by 2024 to 106 000 reported cases, with the Eastern Cape alone accounting for almost half of these incidents, highlighting a severe regional crisis.
The role of educational institutions
The Department of Education and individual schools have a critical duty to protect their students. According to a recent parliamentary response by the MEC of Education for the Eastern Cape, Fundile Gade, 22 educators in the province were suspended due to serious misconduct involving learners. Among these, there were cases of sexual assault and inappropriate relationships with learners. This highlights the urgent need for schools to focus on safeguarding students rather than protecting perpetrators.
Several actions are urgently required:
1. Prompt action by the police: The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, needs to provide urgent updates on the Cwe Cwe case and address the reasons behind the delays in the investigation, adhering to the legal maxim, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
2. Review of safety policies: The Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, must review all safety policies within schools to ensure they adequately protect students. Critics of current policies argue that they need to focus more on student safety rather than other programmes.
3. Enforcement of reporting protocols: Schools must adhere to strict pro-
tocols for reporting crimes on their premises. Non-compliance should lead to immediate deregistration of the schools involved.
4. Investigations into regional issues: The MEC of Education for the Eastern Cape, Fundile Gabe, should investigate why this region has become a hotspot for offenses against children.
5. Public access to offender registries: The Minister of Justice & Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, should make the National Sexual Offenders Register available to the public to prevent known offenders from causing further harm.
6. Support for victims: It is crucial that Cwe Cwe and her family receive adequate physical and psychological support to ensure their well-being and safety.
Prayers of protection over our nation’s precious children
The law of the nation is failing us, but God’s laws will never fail. As we face troubling trends of violence against the most vulnerable members of our society, we are called to stand in the gap with fervent prayers and unwavering faith in God’s promises.
A prayer for safety and security
“Heavenly Father, we pray for Your shield of protection to surround our children. Keep them safe from harm and watch over their paths as proclaimed in Psalm 121:7-8, ‘The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.’ May Your peace and security fill their lives, O Lord.”
A prayer against fear and anxiety
“Lord, we lift up the hearts of our children who live in fear. May Your words in 2 Timothy 1:7, ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind,’ be a constant reminder for them that they are empowered by Your Holy Spirit to overcome any adversity.”
A prayer for justice and righteousness
“Almighty God, we seek Your justice for those who have been wronged. As it is written in Psalm 37:28, ‘For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.’ Bring forth Your righteous judgement and uphold the cause of those who suffer injustice.”
A prayer for healing and restoration
“Dear Lord, extend Your healing hand to those who have been hurt. Let them find solace in Your promise in Jeremiah 30:17, ‘For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord. Restore their spirits and bring wholeness to their bodies, minds, and souls.”
A prayer for wisdom and guidance
“Father, guide those in authority to make wise decisions that protect and nurture our children. We ask for Your wisdom to prevail, as stated in James 1:5, ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.’ May our leaders act with compassion and integrity.”
A concluding prayer
“Lord, we place our trust in You. In every challenge, let us remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:14, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ We commit our children into Your loving arms, confident in Your sovereign care.”
This article is featured in the May issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 05/05/2025
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only.
DR Pearl Kupe – attorney and consultant to world leaders and international organisations, as well as TV show host on TBN Africa (DSTV channel 343). Visit pearlkupe.co.za or email pearl.kupe@gmail.com
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This is indeed not an isolated case my daughter went through the cold heart of South African law, in her case we knew the pertrator in person but the out come was, there was no enough evidence, she was 7 yrs too at that point so she’s now an adult that was failed by law, the effect that we had to go through after that can never be told but God eventually healed us, so this case just takes me back to exactly what I went through, mind u I was also SAPS employee by then, I know what Cwecwes mother is going through I’ve been there, it’s an agony. My wish is just to hug her. A girl child is never protected in this country. It’s a shame
Thank you for writing this article and sharing scriptures of comfort. While the law of the nation is failing us, God’s laws will never fail us🙏