A mother from a rural community is calling on the authorities, including the Police and Social Welfare Department to intervene and save her teenage daughter before she is assaulted again, or worse.

The mother spoke to SEARCHLIGHT following the circulation of a video on social media, showing her teenage daughter being physically assaulted by an older woman on Tuesday, March 28. The mother told SEARCHLIGHT by telephone that she was upset when she learnt of the altercation involving her daughter, and she wants the person who carried out the assault to be brought to justice. She also said she fears that if her family does not secure help to get the teen on the right path, she could be seriously hurt.

The mother explained that the trouble started after she placed her daughter in the care of a friend while she worked away from home. It was through the move, a little over a year ago, that the teen became involved with a group of female friends from the area.

Since then, the mother said the teen started to skip school to keep company with the girls who reside at the house where the altercation occurred. In an attempt to monitor the teen more closely, the mother said she took time off work, and even went so far as to forbid her daughter to visit the house again, but to no avail.

The mother told SEARCHLIGHT that she repeatedly sought the assistance of the police to remove the teen from the house.

“I contacted the police station again and reported the matter and they told me they would send someone to get [daughter] from the house.”

After repeated calls and follow-up visits to the police station, the mother said she decided to go to the house and retrieve her child, but when she arrived there, she was told by those occupying the house that her daughter was not there. The mother said she believes this was a lie.

Growing increasingly frustrated, the mother said she sought the assistance of the Social Welfare Department, even requesting that the teen be placed in custodial care of the State to help her modify her behaviour, however the parents were informed that this was not an option.

“They said she has parents and we have to learn to control her. The next thing you will hear is that she ends up in some gutter…”.

The teen’s caregiver, who lives in the same village where the altercation occurred told SEARCHLIGHT that the matter has been reported to the police but she is worried about the teen’s safety and state of mind if a case is taken before the court.

She too, like the mother, expressed frustration about the teen spending time at the house, considering that the homeowner was reportedly warned by the police not to harbour the teen or she could run afoul of the law.

The care-giver also expressed concern about the activities in which the girls are involved at the house.