The woman’s refusal to end the affair has caused a rift in the family. It has been established that a team of social workers has been assigned to investigate the matter.
Another team has been tasked to provide counselling to the family and offering ongoing psychosocial support to the woman who has suffered humiliation at the hands of her stepdaughter.
“Our team of social workers will also have sessions with the girl and provide her with psychosocial support,” said KZN MEC for Social Development, Nonhlanhla Khoza.
Furthermore, Khoza has called on police to investigate and charge the father.
“This man should face statutory rape since he started to sleep with his daughter while still a minor,” the MEC said.
It is alleged that the girl and her father began a sexual relationship when she was 12. It is further alleged that the 52-year-old man began raping his daughter when she would come over to visit him.
Khoza said the girl lost her mother and stayed with her sibling, father and stepmother. However, Khoza lashed out at child abuse, rape and gender-based violence.
“If the communities did not keep quiet for so long, such dastardly acts may have been averted earlier. Our communities should understand that ignoring cases of sexual exploitation perpetuates such actions.
“We want to appeal to the SAPS to conduct a thorough investigation and put forward a strong case for prosecution against the man. As a society, we need to send a strong message to perpetrators of such crimes that we have zero tolerance for their disgusting behaviour,” Khoza said.
