A senior official in the safety and security secretariat stands charged with child molestation, reports Philippa Garson
A top official in the safety and security secretariat has been suspended, pending the outcome of a court case against him involving charges of indecent assault against two female minors.
Etienne Dirk Marais, chief director of liaison and communication in the secreteriat, must appear in the Johannesburg Regional Court on February 23 on charges of allegedly molesting two young girls, aged nine and 13. He appeared in court on January 26, but was not asked to plead.
Marais (33), who was adviser to Minister of Safety and Security Sydney Mufamadi until his official appointment to the secreteriat on January 8, has been suspended, pending the finalisation of his case, said Azhar Cachalia, Gauteng secretary for safety and security.
The charges against Marais who has contributed to the drafting of new policing policy for the country and who was a former SRC president at Wits University have shocked those who know and work with him.
The two alleged victims are the daughters of an employee in the Gauteng government who is well-known in political circles. According to a close friend, the mother was completely devastated when one of her daughters told her in November last year of the alleged incidents of sexual assault involving Marais. Another daughter then made similar allegations and charges were laid on November 14.
Sergeant Colin Morris of the Child Protection Unit said the unit was still drawing up the charge sheet and that it was still unclear how many charges, which would probably be charges of indecent assault, would be laid.
Morris said Marais had been questioned and had so far co-operated with the police investigation. He said material for the state’s case had been confiscated, but he would not be drawn on the nature of the material.
The mother’s friend said Marais had gained the mother’s trust by being nice to the children, and showered the elder daughter with attention.
Childline, which was contacted after the allegations were made, has drawn up psychological reports on the children’s alleged experiences and emotional state and the children have received counselling.
Cachalia described Marais as a dedicated individual who has made a substantial contribution to the transformation of the South African Police Service. His commitment and dedication has earned him the respect of his immediate colleagues as well as senior police management.
I could have allowed him to continue, but I feel it was only proper particularly given charges of this nature that we suspended him immediately. We must bear in mind that they are only allegations at this stage. But once the trial has run its course, whatever the outcome, we will still investigate the matter.
Marais, a Wits graduate and SRC president in 1987, was based at the Centre for the Study of Violence from 1991 to 1993, and then lectured and co-ordinated the police management programme at the Wits School of Public and Development Management. He was appointed adviser to Mufamadi in 1994.
The physical and sexual abuse of children is on the increase throughout the world and spans all categories of class and culture. Morris confirmed that the Child Protection Unit was receiving increasing numbers of reports of sexual and physical abuse of children. He said this was partly due to increased public awareness, which led to more reporting of incidents than in the past.
Statistics provided by Child Protection Unit of the SAPS indicate a huge increase in reported sexual offences against children over the past three years.
The national figures indicate that rape against children increased from 4 736 in 1993 to 10 037 in 1995. Cases of sodomy went from 431 to 660 over the same period, incest from 146 to 221 and indecent assault 3 439 to 4 044, and other sexual offences from 1 034 to 1 121.