The Voice (Francistown)
Nomsa Ndlovu
1 April 2008
Francistown — Parents of a four-year old girl who was recently raped by a mentally disabled man are appealing to the police to confine him to a psychiatric hospital because he is a threat to the society.
A filthy and greasy looking mentally retarded man, known only as Disho, who at times roams the streets of Maun with his private parts uncovered, pounced on the minor in Botshabelo Ward, Maun, recently. Sadly, Maun residents have revealed that this is not the first incident of rape that Disho had committed.
Three other girls have been raped at different locations and the police have caught and released him back into the society without sending him to hospital for mental assessment.
"Disho's mother also confirmed to us that it is not the first time that his son has raped a child," said Saziba Majaga of Sanyedi Ward, Maun. "The mother even pointed to us a yard not far away from their residential place, at Botshabelo Ward, where another child whom he is said to have raped twice, lives. We also heard that another one of his victims stays near Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School."
Majaga, like Thabara Moenga of Thitoyamokodi Ward and other residents of Maun interviewed, feel that Disho should be confined at the Lobatse Mental Hospital. He insisted that since Disho's parents could not contain his movement, then the law enforcement officers should act to protect innocent children, who at present are his targets.
Narrating the sad fate that befell his child, father to the girl (identity withheld) said that his wife was inside the house and the little girl was playing with other children outside their yard when the incident took place.
"At that time I was at work," he said.
The children said that Disho, a neighbour well known to the children, approached and joined them at play. After a while he took the victim, put him on his lap and started penetrating her in front of the others. When Disho saw a woman approaching them he put the child down and walked away.
"It is this woman who entered into our yard and told my wife what she had seen happening. When my wife inspected the child she saw that her panty was stained with blood. That is when I was called home to take the child to the hospital," the father commented.
Although the incident has left the family traumatised, good news to them is that the mad man did not break the child's hymen. They say that the doctor who attended them discovered that the child's vaginal opening was slightly tone due to forced penetration. "On the first day, after the incident, it pained us to see our child walking with legs apart but the next day she looked fine. She is also on treatment that prevents the contraction of sexual transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS."
The father said although "we may be relieved to see her happy and playing around like usual, internally this thing is chewing us. What if Disho rapes her again? Will I be able to contain myself from taking the law into my hands? Confining him in a psychiatric rehabilitation centre will be the best solution not only for us but for a lot of children who might result being on his list of victims," said the angry father.
Women Against Rape (WAR) Counsellor, Mpho Mohopolo, was also of the same sentiments.
Mohopolo expressed disappointment that Disho was still roaming the streets of Maun a free man. Procedurally, she said, as soon as the case was reported to them, the police should have taken him straight to the doctor for mental assessment.
"The doctor's report would have determined whether the man should be sent to confinement in a mental rehabilitation centre".
Mohopolo has asked the affected families to seek help.
"Connect them to us and we will help."
At the time of going to press, The Voice had already liaised with the affected family and put them in touch with WAR counsellors.
CID Officer commanding District No5, Simisani Zhibi, confirmed that the matter has been reported to them. He said that investigations into the case were still going on. Asked as to whether he was aware that it was not the first case of rape that Disho had committed, he said, "I am still new in Maun as such I am not informed about the man's past criminal records. If at all that is the case then action should urgently be taken because he is indeed a threat to the community."
Attempts to get Disho's surname and age from the police and the community were in vain.
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