‘Imams knew about abuse’
|Published
SECOND VIDEO: Granddaughter of Gasant speaks out
An alleged abuse victim says imams in Bo-Kaap knew that she was being molested by her oupa “but did nothing about it”.
In a second video shared on YouTube on Monday, the young woman who has accused her well-known Bo-Kaap oupa Gasant Emeran and his twin brother Goosain of child molestation, said last year her brother went to an imam in Bo-Kaap and made him aware of the abuse she had allegedly suffered as a child.
But she says nothing was done, adding that this was not the only imam who knew of her plight.
The 85-year-old twins are both retired school principals who are well-respected in the Bo-Kaap, the Muslim community at large and the education fraternity.
Goosain Emeran has since issued a statement denying all the allegations, while the woman’s dad said his father is very ill with cancer and is unable to comment.
In this video, titled “Message to the community + legalities on child sexual abuse”, the woman, who now lives in Jordan, addresses various issues, including the violent protests in Bo-Kaap by people who demanded that her grandfather and his brother leave the community, and thanking people for their support.
According to a relative, the brothers left Bo-Kaap last Tuesday amid protests against them in the community.
By last night the video had been viewed more than 6000 times.
“Last year my brother went to an imam in Bo-Kaap, made him aware of what was happening, of the abuse that occurred, and nothing happened,” she says.
“He wasn’t the only imam who knew about these perpetrators, who knew about my situation specifically. And nothing was ever done.
“How are they qualified to handle this situation? They are not therapists, or counsellors, or police. It is not appropriate to ask them what to do.”
She also says that sharing her experience has brought her and her divorced parents closer.
Her dad previously told the Daily Voice that he had not spoken to his daughter “in years” and that she refuses to take his calls.
“I feel like it should be made public that my dad contacted me a few days after the first video and his message to me was that he is proud of me and that he loves my bravery,” she explains.
“I don’t want to get into personal details, I felt it needed to be said that both my parents support me, for the truth being out there.”
The woman made headlines two weeks ago in a shocking first video in which she alleged she had been abused by her oupa from age five, and knew of other alleged victims who had been attacked over a period of 50 years.
“Me putting up that video was the last resort, there had been family members who had reached out to me, and others are of course upset by the reputation that is now not the same.
“But to those people, I say I did this to protect your children too, children in the community because my child has never met them, my child is safe from them but what kind of person would I be to keep silent?”
With regards to laying charges, she said she is not in the country and thus cannot do so.