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CNN World Report

Police Investigation in South Africa Found to Be Lax

Aired April 08, 2001 - 14:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: Another South African journalist was the other big winner in the African Journalist of the Year awards. Sam Rogers of e-TV and her team produced a story about the injustice a woman from Soweto faced after a brutal attack. The piece confronted police about investigating the assault and fighting for justice for a badly-scarred victim. We're going to warn you that you may find some of the pictures in this report disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAM ROGERS, E-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Mkosi Mkesi (ph) was left for dead, her battered body discarded. Miraculously, she was found and taken to a hospital. Her injuries were devastating: fingers and toes had been severed, her nose and mouth burned off with a hot iron.

The head and ears, they scratched me with a pointed shear, all these scars, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because it was a big hole here.

ROGERS: Long after the media cameras packed up and gone, we decided to visit Mkosi, who is now in the care of her mother. It's taking time for her to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. In the meantime, her perpetrators walk free. One of them allegedly her boyfriend of three years, Toto Indemonde (ph).

I used to love him, but I didn't trust him.

ROGERS: Mkosi ran away from home when she was just 14. Her mother, Dorene Mkesi (ph), finally gave up hope of ever seeing her daughter again, after 15 years passed without so much as a letter. Financial difficulties led Dorene to Gerborg (ph), where she found a job as a domestic worker on the East Rand. It was here that she received the shocking news of her daughter's attack. The horrific circumstances reunited them again.

(on camera): Returning to the scene of the crime, we were appalled to find crucial evidence lying untouched in the area; evidence that clearly police have no interest in retrieving.

(voice-over): Third Degree (ph) took the matter up with the police. Refusing to be fobbed off with a police spokeswoman, we insisted on talking directly to the investigating officer. The sexual offenses unit in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) deals specifically with rape cases. Nine telephone calls and numerous unanswered messages to the detective left us with little choice but to visit the unit in a bid to get some answers.

(on camera): We're just not getting any joy, and we tried to find (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because Mkosi here made a complaint eight months ago. She was gang raped, tortured and mutilated. The evidence is still on the scene and the police have done nothing. Detective (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hasn't returned calls. He has never been to see her again, and this woman's case -- look at this woman -- has not been attended to by your units, and this is a disgrace.

(voice-over): Why was evidence still on the scene, and how long does Mkosi have to wait to see justice carried out? Head of the unit, Commander Nirkling (ph), would only attempt to answer questions behind closed doors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry, sorry, we cannot answer these outside.

ROGERS: In a written response about why evidence was still on the scene of the crime, the police suggested the victim may have pointed out a different crime scene. They also complained that they were unable to track down the suspect because they didn't have a no physical address. No surprise conviction rates are so low.

Lengi Mphelo, education and information team leader of People Opposed to Woman Abuse, says her organization has engaged the Department of Safety and Security on the importance of developing communication between the victim and the police.

LENGI MPHELO, PEOPLE OPPOSED TO WOMAN ABUSE: There has to be clear overlap in terms of how the investigative offices communicate with the justice department because they are the ones that eventually convict and pass sentence so that there is clear communication that one knows what is happening on the other side.

ROGERS: New anti-crime laws are providing more severe punishment for convicted gang rapists. That may be well and true, but it falls flat without the commitment and determination of the police force. Mkosi still lives in fear for her life.

MPHELO: It clearly shows that there's still a lack of proper commitment in terms of handling issues. It doesn't necessarily -- you don't have a bias in how you respond to cases because somebody's coming from the lower levels of society, then you don't take it as seriously, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) doesn't mean her life is not important. She is still a person. She is still a woman. She has ambitions and aspirations like any other person.

ROGERS: But aspirations are hard to follow for Mkosi. Her scars are not the only reminder of her pain. Loneliness is her prison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RATTANSI: And currently, Mkosi Mkesi is preparing for plastic surgery in May. Despite her inability to get any legal compensation, she says she has regained emotional strength while living with her mother in the last few months.

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