IT WAS all smiles for the family of a Kidd’s Beach rape victim on Saturday as MEC for social development and special programmes Pemmy Majodina visited them to give support and groceries.
Majodina was accompanied by senior government officials and the Reverend Xolamzi Sam who has “adopted” the family.
She said: “We are here to strengthen our support and care for this family.”
This is the second time Majodina and her team have visited the family this month. Earlier in the month they donated furniture.
The human settlements department built a house for the family and handed it over to them last December. But it has been empty since.
Majodina said understanding the family’s plight they looked around and the Western Cape public works department offered to help.
“ can’t afford to buy themselves furniture and we made sure they got it from our department.
“We’re not going to leave the poor hungry, we’re here for them,” said Majodina.
The Daily Dispatch first reported on the family in 2009 when the 22-year-old victim was repeatedly raped by two men before another man, who pretended to be a Good Samaritan, offered her a plate of food – but also raped her.
He was arrested and is serving a term in jail for the offence.
After the incident Sam has been in touch with stakeholders trying to assist the family.
“That house came before Christmas and on Christmas Day we were here to give the family presents and food for the festive season,” said Sam.
One problem the family have is that no one is employed and the victim and her twin sister, both mentally challenged, do not get any form of social grant.
Their mother said they depended on her grandchild’s social grant to survive.
“She’s our source of food ,” she said.
The two have no identity documents but Majodina said she would organise with Home Affairs and the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) for the two to get social grants.
“Out of all that I am doing I have made sure this family is under my wing and I will make sure they get what they deserve.
“I am happy with the community for looking after them,” said Majodina. —