The relationship between Carol and her mom was confusing at best and intense. During times of closeness Rejoice would confide in Carol, however at other times the relationship would be distant, competitive and acrimonious. Rejoice often blamed Carol for enjoying her life with stepdad instead of helping out with the care of her half siblings. When the infant child, the last born was eight months old Rejoice returned to working night duty. T

She left Sandile and Sandiswa at the care of Carol and her stepdad. Things seemed to work well. The step father was actively involved in toddler and infant care with the help of Carol. They had a working routine. It began by feeding, then bathing and then bed time. Carol loved her step father and appreciated what he did for her. He was one person that she could go to when there were difficulties at school and with her friends. She felt understood, cared for and supported by him. This made it hard for her to tell her mother when he began to touch her inappropriately and later sexually assaulting her. He had also threatened that he’ll leave them if she told on him and that Rejoice will never believe or forgive her for breaking up their family. This abuse continued for seven more years until Carol threatened to tell her then boyfriend. She was seventeen years old. The abuse stopped from then on.

#

“Detective Mthanga” captain Dlangamandla called out to a detective sitting hunched over at a desk glued on his paperwork.

“Detective Mthanga!” captain Dlangamandla, a burly man with a big stomach, seemed impatient with the detective.

“Yes captain. Sorry I didn’t see you. How can I help?” Detective Mthanga was a man in his mid-thirties. He stood tall with a stalky physique. He seemed to be no stranger to the gym.

 “Please tell me you have some good news about the perpetrator in Dlamini One” Captain Dlangamandla’s booming voice reverberated throughout the reception area of the small police station.

“We have probable cause Captain, there is a child currently in danger in that house” Detective Mthanga had been investigating the case for two months at that point. He had been waiting to have further reasonable grounds to arrest the perpetrator. He knew that there was no statute of limitation for cases of rape but needed to have a solid case.

“Elias should not hurt another child in that household or any household’ Captain Dlangamandla seemed angry and fed up. “Take two of your best constables and bring him here”.

“I want to get him at his most vulnerable Captain. We are going to be there at 1 a.m” Detective Mthanga seemed pleased with himself as he impressed his captain. “I had told the young lady to be present so that she can point him out to us”.