A FAMILY in Fort Rixon is bitter with the police accusing them of being responsible for the disappearance of a docket of a case in which their 13-year-old Grade 7 child was allegedly raped by a neighbour last year.
Richard Muponde Senior Court Reporter
The child was allegedly raped at her parents’ home by Elvis Masuku, who was arrested and taken to court in Bulawayo for remand in July of the same year.
However, the trial has stalled after his docket disappeared three times and is reportedly still missing at Fort Rixon Police Station.
The family was now suspecting that some underhand dealings were taking place between the police and the suspect, Masuku, who is walking scot-free in the village, reportedly further traumatising his victim.
Contacted for comment, Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Philisani Ndebele said complaints against the police should be channelled to the authorities rather than the press.
“We have the right channels for people who have complaints against the police to follow,” he said.
“She came to complain to you?
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“If she had a complaint, she should have talked to the officer in charge up to the officer commanding the province.”
However, the child’s mother yesterday told Southern Eye that the police were not dealing with her daughter’s matter transparently, as she had received false reports on several occasions.
“Masuku was arrested in July and was taken to court without our knowledge,” she said.
“After about two months, we saw him back in the village.
“I then went to Tredgold to inquire since we were worried as we did not know what was happening with the case.
“I was then advised that the docket was returned to the station in Fort Rixon.”
She said she inquired with the police at Fort Rixon and was advised that the docket was at Tredgold where she had come from.
“After shuttling between Tredgold and Fort Rixon police that is when the officer in charge told us that the docket had gone missing. He then produced a duplicate which he said was to be taken to court and it also went missing,” she said.
“As I speak, the docket has gone missing three times.”
The victim’s mother said they have been pestering the police for the past eight months, but they seemed indifferent and gave them false information.
She said she has lost all hope, as she suspected the police at Fort Rixon were shielding Masuku.
Her daughter was allegedly raped twice in April and July last year.
