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By Shakirah Thebus 
13h ago
Cape Town – A protest in support of victims of gender-based violence and sexual assault is expected to take place in Bo Kaap today.
This is after a video of a young woman who reported sexual abuse at the hands of her grandfather, a well-known educator and director from Cape Town, in a video that has since gone viral.
The protest is scheduled for 5 pm at the Hilton Hotel.
In a video titled Exposing Pedophilia by Community Leaders in Cape Town, the young woman provides details of the alleged abuse that she says began at the age of 5.
The video, posted Tuesday, has been widely shared and several have delivered messages of support for the young woman.
In the video, she says she was not the only victim and that other women had been sexually assaulted over a period of more than 50 years, by her grandfather and brother.
The two men identified in the video are 85 years old, former principals and former physics and math educators, currently residing in Bo Kaap.
The young woman, who lives in Jordan, alleges that the sexual abuse ended when she was 11, when she moved with her parents out of the country.
They had lived on the same property as his grandfather in Bo Kaap.
Bo Kaap resident and protest organizer Shafwaan Laubscher said that in light of the recent video, the protest and awareness campaign was needed at this particular time.
“We live in a horrible time where this type of abuse of our women and children is happening far too often, in fact it should never be. It is time for us as men to confront abuse in any form and before the perpetrators, it is time for men to stand up and be counted and report this type of behavior by men. We are supposed to be the protectors of our women and children.
“We, as communities and leaders of our communities, must break our silence.
“It is time that we educate and eradicate these types of acts so that they do not occur.”
The Muslim Judicial Council issued a statement on the video, saying that one of the men mentioned, a member of its Board of Education, had since been suspended.
“The Muslim Judicial Council SA notes with great concern the clip on social media featuring serious allegations of sexual abuse and pedophilia against two prominent Cape Town men. One of those against whom these accusations have been directed forms part of the MJC Board of Education and has subsequently been suspended with immediate effect until further notice, ”the statement read.
“We condemn all acts of sexual abuse and abuse of women and children. Crimes of this nature are abominable and the processes of law must be fully instituted ”.
“Our condolences to all who suffer any form of rape. The MJC encourages those who have been victims of crimes of this nature to break the silence and seek legal remedies ”.
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