Correcting the Conversation: A Mental Health Advocate's View of Rape and Healing, Justice for Cwecwe

The recent and deeply distressing news of the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl, affectionately known as Cwecwe, at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, has ignited national outrage and calls for justice. This innocent child was reportedly attacked on school premises while waiting for her transport, a place where she should have been safe and protected. (Source: EWN)

As a mental health advocate and the founder of Idea Convergence, a South African branding agency, I am compelled to address the urgent need to challenge and change the harmful narratives that often surface in the wake of such tragedies. In many male-dominated spaces, I’ve heard comments that suggest we should scrutinize the victim’s behavior or clothing. These comments are as ignorant as they are dangerous.

This kind of thinking is rooted in victim-blaming, which shifts accountability away from the perpetrator. But let’s be clear. The only person responsible for rape is the rapist. Blaming a rape victim is like blaming someone for being robbed because they had money, or excusing murder because someone said something offensive. The issue is not the victim’s choices. It is the perpetrator’s lack of self-control and misuse of power.

Some people go even further by misusing religious texts to justify these crimes. One frequently misquoted scripture is from Exodus 22:16, which some claim implies that a rapist should marry his victim. This is a grave and dangerous distortion. That verse is not about rape. It refers to a man who seduces a consenting adult woman. It speaks of responsibility after mutual, consensual intimacy outside of marriage. It has nothing to do with rape or violence. Using scripture to excuse or explain away such brutality is both theologically incorrect and morally bankrupt.

Mental Health and the Path to Healing

The trauma inflicted by rape, especially on a child like Cwecwe, goes beyond physical harm. It leaves deep emotional and psychological wounds that can last a lifetime. But healing is possible, and it starts with compassionate care and access to the right mental health resources.

At the Global Institute for Emotional and Mental Wellness (GIEMW), we are dedicated to supporting survivors through a range of transformative programs. GIEMW exists to raise awareness, provide emotional and psychological support, and help survivors rebuild their sense of self and safety. Through Idea Convergence, we contribute by using branding and communication to amplify these efforts and shift public narratives around mental wellness and social justice.

A Call to Action: Stand with Survivors

We must actively and courageously challenge harmful conversations wherever they arise. Rape is never about what the victim did, wore, or said. It is about the rapist’s decision to exert control through violence. As a society, we must:

• Reject victim-blaming and hold perpetrators fully accountable

• Support survivors with care, resources, and access to emotional and psychological healing

• Correct religious and cultural distortions that are used to excuse violence

• Promote a culture of consent, safety, and respect, especially for our children

My commitment, through GIEMW and Idea Convergence, is to help build a world where survivors like Cwecwe are not just supported. They are heard, protected, and empowered. We must all be part of that change.

Visit giemw.org.za to learn more about our work and how you can join us in standing up for what’s right.

Together, we can correct the conversation, support survivors, and ensure that sexual violence has no place in our communities.