Simphiwe

Simphiwe is an 11 year-old, mentally handicapped boy. Simphiwe lived with his aunt and uncle in the local community and although handicapped, was a very active and happy little boy.

Simphiwe’s aunt brought him to Bobbi Bear when she found out that the local children were regularly ridiculing and throwing stones at him. She was concerned about this and the fact that Simphiwe’s behaviour had become more and more aggressive of late. He no longer laughed and had become very withdrawn at home.

A Bobbi Bear CSO counselled Simphiwe and it came to light that Simphiwe was being sodomized by his aunt’s husband on a regular basis. Bobbi Bear immediately took action and the perpetrator was caught and convicted. Simphiwe and his aunt were supported through this traumatic time and integrated into the weekly counselling and support group.

Unfortunately, Simphiwe’s recovery was slow and his aunt informed Bobbi Bear that he was regularly wiping his faeces all over her house. Upon further counseling by Bobbi Bear CSO’s Simphiwe revealed how he was missing his mother who had passed away and that he was distressed by the fact that he had no material item by which to remember her.

It was revealed that Simphiwe’s mother’s family had as per the local custom, taken all of the mother’s possessions and belongings after the death. Simphiwe’s aunt was also regularly telling Simphiwe that “your mother has died and you are nothing” which explained why in counselling, Simphiwe would always repeat that he believed he “was nothing”.

Bobbi Bear staff hunted down an old photograph of Simphiwe’s mother and made copies of this particular photograph. The copies of the photograph were placed everywhere in the house where Simphiwe was wiping his faeces. The original photograph was also given to Simphiwe for him to remember his mother by.

Overtime and through continual support from Bobbi Bear staff, Simphiwe slowly began to heal and he stopped wiping faeces all over his aunt’s house. He has since returned to his former happy and active self.