TW: Gender Based Violence
South Africa has some of the highest incidences of child abuse in the world with more than 67,000 cases of rape and sexual assault against children reported in 2000. Among all the harrowing and horrific stories of sexual abuse suffered by women of all ages, races and religions, news publications have come to accept a steady stream of these disturbing recounts.
Stories about gender based violence have become infused into our daily news, perhaps below the flashy headlines or after the latest political scandals, nonetheless they are there. It might be this co-existence with the narrative of sexual abuse that we are so uncomfortably familiar with that has perhaps removed the shock value that media publications so desperately seek from their readers. 72 hours ago a Cape-Town born woman (believed to be in her mid-20s) released a fifteen minute YouTube video that has since gone viral and assembled quite an audience from the Cape Town Muslim community. The woman, who now resides in the Middle East, only partially showed her face in the video so as to conceal her identity. The video detailed the woman’s traumatising experience of sexual abuse at the hands of her paternal grandfather and his brother. The explicit account of her disturbing experience was discussed within the fifteen minute clip. The video has been met with shock and confusion as both the grandfather and his brother, Gasant and Goosain Emeran, are well respected Muslim leaders within the Bo-Kaap community. Both the brothers have been acting principals of high schools in the Cape during their years.
This particular incident of sexual abuse has sparked protests in the streets of Bo-Kaap and has rallied women of all ages and religions to stand against the abusers in question. Protesters reaffirmed their support behind the woman who was brave enough to come forward and further stated that they would not be complicit in sweeping issues of sexual abuse under the carpet. The perpetrators were allowed to play a smaller part in this conversation as they were privileged enough to stand behind the religious institution that has given them their platform. Though people in the community have condemned their actions and stated that they will distance themselves from the perpetrators, some still believe that both men of an elderly age should be left alone. Many do not share this sentiment and will continue to draw attention to this issue and provide a voice for all who suffered. The woman, who had stated that she was not alone in this abuse, said that the brothers have abused girls for decades, most of whom have spoken to her prior to her releasing her public statement. Both men have been contacted for their statement on the matter but the families have spoken on behalf of the brothers and said they decline to comment at this stage of the matter.