An alleged perpetrator of sexual abuse, named by a woman in a YouTube video, has since denied the allegations.

In a lawyer’s letter – which is in Radio 786’s possession – a Mr Goosain Emeran denies being party to any unlawful conduct of any nature whatsoever. The Emeran brother says the allegations made are “wild, unsubstantiated and untrue”.

Goosain claims through his attorney – Teboho Sebongi – that he had never been confronted with allegations of this nature before and dared the “complainant” to lay formal charges against him.

He also states that he would welcome a prosecution in order to clear his name. The letter which is addressed to three media houses, demands a retraction, claiming that the allegations are not made against him directly.

The claims were detailed by the granddaughter of Gasant Emeran, alleging that he had molested her at age of 5-years-old. The video titled “Exposing Paedophilia by Community Leaders in Cape Town”, makes for a graphic and shivering account of abuse.

By Thursday, demonstrators from Bo Kaap, Bonteheuwel, Manenberg and Grassy Park participated in the call against Gender-Based Violence. They walked to the suspected perpetrator’s house in Bo Kaap and showed their solidarity with his alleged victims.

Shafwaan Loubscher from the Bo-Kaap community said it is time to stop keeping quiet and speak out in order to break the cycle of abuse.

Eighty-one-year-old Bo Kaap resident, Sadia Williams has told Radio 786 that it’s often women who remain silent when they know that the men in their lives are abusing children.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Judicial Council has suspended Goosain Emeran after allegations of sexual molestation had been levelled against him. Emeran served on the Education Board of the MJC. The Council’s President Sheikh Irafaan Abrahams released the statement after a video had made allegations of misconduct against Emeran and his brother.

Abrahams has asserted the MJC’s condemnation of all acts of abuse and has called for the full process of the law to be followed in these cases.

There is an urgent need for the community to introspect and speak out against gender-based violence, said Rape Crisis counsellor, Mualima Mansura Afrika. She believes that cases of sexual abuse are prevalent in the Muslim community.

If you are a victim of sexual abuse and require any form of assistance, please contact Rape Crisis on 021 633 9229 or the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children on 021 633 5287.