Lindiwe

When she was eight, Lindiwe complained to her teacher about regular and severe stomach pains, and a “sore heart”. On further questioning, she revealed to her teacher that her stepfather was raping her. The teacher told Lindiwe’s mother, who beat Lindiwe and accused her of lying.

In desperation, the teacher shared the story with the school principal, who called Operation Bobbi Bear. A Safety Officer met Lindiwe at school and using Bobbi Bear, asked her to explain what had happened to her. Lindiwe drew on Bobbi Bear, and revealed that her stepfather had been molesting her for many years, and in the last few months had begun raping her, and also molesting her younger sister. The principal called in Lindiwe’s mother, who was horrified at what Bobbi Bear revealed, and truly repentant for not believing her little girl. Lindiwe and her mother laid charges against the stepfather, and sent Bobbi Bear in as court evidence. Within 48 hours the police had picked up the stepfather who appeared in court.

Lindiwe, her mother, a friend and a teacher appeared at the courtroom, all carrying red Bobbi Bears. The prosecutor registered this as community outrage and objection to the step-father receiving bail. Two years on from this court case, the perpetrator was still behind bars, whilst Lindiwe and her sister had received care and counselling, says Lindiwe “Bobbi Bear made my mother believe me”.