Teddy Bear Foundation: Authorities not doing what they should to ensure justice delivered in Matatiele rape case

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CAPE TOWN - Child rights activists across the country are speaking up about crimes against children. 

It comes as the case of the seven-year-old girl from the Eastern Cape, who was raped last year, made news headlines leading to countrywide protests this week.

In another child abuse case, a man was sentenced to two life terms on Thursday, after he pleaded guilty to raping and murdering his eight-day-old daughter.

Protestors and child activists are up in arms about the case of a seven-year-old schoolgirl who was raped in October last year, allegedly at her school in the Eastern Cape.

They're also fuming about the slow response from police in investigating the case.

Director of the Teddy Bear Foundation, Dr Shaheda Omar, said the authorities were not doing what they should to ensure justice was delivered.

"We're looking at how these people are not working together; these are not their best efforts, there is not collective coordination and collaboration integrating the fight and surge against child abuse and I think what we find is that even the punishment that is handed out actually does not fit the crime."

Omar added that lengthy court cases mean survivors have to relive their trauma and in many instances, they withdraw their complaint.