Raped girl escapes but dies after clinic snub
Pupil who collapsed on floor of police station ‘failed by two government institutions’
‘I have never been left with such pain in my heart but I thank God I was able to be there so that at least one person could be told what happened to her’
A 15-year-old girl allegedly held hostage and gang-raped managed to escape, only to be turned away from a Motherwell clinic and told to first go to a police station where she later died.
Zenizole Vena died in the arms of a woman inside the police station’s community service centre.
Sindiswa Ntantiso, 58, encountered Zenizole in Xhama Street before 8am on Wednesday last week.
The teenager was crying, bleeding and barely able to walk.
She was last seen by her family on Saturday September 17.
“I have never been left with such pain in my heart but I thank God I was able to be there so that at least one person could be told what happened to her,” Ntantiso said.
Ntantiso tried to get help for her at the clinic and later at the police station, but her pleas were ignored.
She said Zenizole told her she was raped by four men and needed help.
“We got to the clinic and the security guard at the gate told us we have to join the queue with the others as they were not yet open.”
However, residents in the queue allowed them to skip the line once the doors opened.
Ntantiso said a sister called them aside privately and told them they did not deal with rape victims.
They then tried to walk to the police station 3km away.
But Zenizole collapsed in the street and started to vomit.
A woman offered a blanket to cover Zenizole while a jikeleza taxi driver drove them to the police station.
“When we got to the station, I was shocked with how the police dealt with this,” Ntantiso said.
“I begged them for help and they told us that we would need to get to a hospital first and they can only assist by calling an ambulance.”
She said she pleaded with officers to take Zenizole to the hospital as several police vans were parked outside.
It was while police were speaking to Ntantiso about giving a statement that Zenizole started to cough before she collapsed.
She then took a taxi to fetch the teen’s mother, Nomathamsanqa Vena.
“When we got back to the police station her lifeless body was still lying on the floor covered with a blanket.
“There was no help from anyone. That is how this poor
child lost her life,” Ntantiso said.
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed that Zenizole was taken to the clinic by Ntantiso.
“When at the clinic, the girl alleged that she was raped,” he said.
“She was then referred to the police station, and while on the way [there], the teenager began to froth and vomit.”
He said it was thought that she might have had an epileptic seizure at the station and an ambulance was contacted.
She died at the community service centre while waiting.
Police are investigating an inquest docket.
Zenizole was a pupil at Woolhope Secondary School in Malabar.
The school has since sent condolences to her family on its Facebook page.
She lived with her grandmother and on September 17 asked her for R50.
That was the last time any of them saw her.
Her uncle, Dumisani Vena, 42, said his niece had been an active child who loved her school work.
“Zenizole had always been our sweet child,” he said.
“Her mother brought her home and we all looked after her.
“She had a promising future and all that has been shattered.
“We are hurt as a family. Her mother is barely coping.
“All this has happened so quickly. We never could imagine losing her the way we did.”
He said the family was struggling with the funeral arrangements but had received support from the community. “This is like a nightmare. “What makes it worse is that we know the suspects while our little daughter is no more,” he said.
“Nothing can be done to bring her back.
“But we would be able to sleep better if justice is served.”
Another uncle, Thembekile Faltein, 45, said the family was broken.
“What they did to our daughter was inhumane.
“They raped her and took turns,” he said.
Residents forced the clinic to close on Friday after news of Zenizole’s death spread.
A meeting took place between the family, residents and health officials yesterday after the EFF stepped in.
EFF Ward 54 branch chair Thembisile Solwandle said the incident was reported to their office.
“This involves two government institutions that failed. “We want justice to prevail.” Irate resident Solomzi Bene, 40, said it was not the first time a person had died on the street after being turned away by clinic staff.
“We demand the sister in charge of the clinic be suspended and even charged with murder because the girl died because of her negligence,” he said.
Health department spokesperson Yonela Dekeda said the complaints from residents were being dealt with.
“There will be a meeting with staff at NU11 on Wednesday to engage this issue.
“The allegations made will be investigated.
“We wish to send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased,” she said.