‘No foreign DNA found’ – Mchunu update on Cwecwe rape
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu gave an update on the case of a 7-year-old girl from the Eastern Cape who was raped, allegedly at her school in Matatiele.
The South African Police Service in the area has been criticised for their handling of the case, which sparked widespread demonstrations under the banner #JusticeforCwecwe.
READ: Protests & petitions as SA seeks justice for Cwecwe
Speaking on Friday, Mchunu said no foreign DNA was found on the child.
“The investigation generally followed the correct processes, but with challenges. This is a case without witnesses, involving a minor, and – as crucial as DNA would be it would be – it would not be complete in that you would not be able to do the necessary comparison.”
At the same time, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has clarified that the three people whose DNA was taken were not suspects.
“We spoke about three people of interest. This does not necessarily mean that those people are suspects. The first investigating officers did their investigations, and it was identified that there were three people that they could bring closer [ to the investigation].
“The DNA of these three has been taken and will be analysed. But they are not suspects.”
Earlier this week, Minister Mchunu confirmed that the school principal had also submitted his DNA following days of public criticism over his initial refusal.
READ MORE: Cwecwe rape: School principal submits his DNA
No arrests have been made since the incident occurred in October last year.
The minister described the case as complex, but he assured South Africans that police were working hard to get to the bottom of it.
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