Pretoria – Following media reports of a mentally disabled teenager being raped and impregnated by a police officer, the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane–Zulu, will this weekend meet with the Mpumalanga authorities.
The meeting, which will take place in Ermelo on Saturday, is aimed at discussing gender-based violence, especially against women and children with disabilities, in the province.
“The purpose of the meeting will be to raise awareness of the rights of children with disabilities, and children and women with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities in particular,” said a statement issed by the department.
The Deputy Minister will also discuss what reasonable support is required to ensure they have equal access to justice, and how incidences such as this one, can be prevented.
The 17-year-old, who has a mental disability, was allegedly raped and impregnated by a 52-year-old Police Warrant Officer in Ermelo.
The Deputy Minister will also visit the family. – SAnews.gov.za
