By Buziwe Nocuze
- The mother opened a rape case on 19 February 2026 but says police told her they needed a sign language interpreter before they could proceed.
- Residents in Lower Crossroads say they will remove the suspect themselves if police fail to arrest him soon.
A mother in Lower Crossroads says she feels abandoned by police.
Her deaf daughter was raped and became pregnant. The baby is now five months old.
The man accused of raping her is married and still living freely in the area.
The mother says she went to the police station on 19 February 2026 to open a rape case. She hoped officers would arrest the suspect and arrange a DNA test.
Instead, she says police told her they first needed to find someone who understands sign language before they could continue with the case.
She says her daughter becomes distressed whenever she sees the suspect in the street.
“My child acts strangely every time she sees the suspect. My grandchild is five months old, but the suspect is walking freely on the streets while my daughter gets traumatised every time. That’s why I decided to approach the media so that if anything happens to my daughter, people need to know that SAPS failed her,” she said.
The mother says she wants a DNA test to confirm that the man is the father of the child.
“I want justice for my daughter. I will not keep quiet until the person who did this gets behind bars, even if it means putting my life in danger because we don’t know what the suspect is thinking now. Even the community members said my grandchild looks like this man’s kids. All I want is the DNA test,” she said.
Community anger is growing.
One resident says people do not feel safe with the suspect in the neighbourhood.
“If SAPS continue dragging their feet, we will have no choice but to take action as the community. We will not stay with the suspect in our area because if he has the guts to rape a child, it means our kids are also not safe around him. We feel for his wife, but she will also have to go with her evil husband,” said the resident.
Western Cape South African Police Service spokesperson Captain Frederick Van Wyk says the mother must report the poor service to the management of Philippi East police station.
He says the matter can then be investigated and possible steps taken.
Pictured above: A crime scene tape.
Image source: File
