Bhisho probes claim girl, 10, raped at school
The education department plans to conclude an internal investigation into a rape allegation involving two primary school pupils before schools close on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said disciplinary action against any staff found guilty of contravening the Schools Act would be taken in January when schools reopen.
A girl of 10 told a teacher she was raped by an 11-year-old boy at their school, Mkhwezo Junior Secondary, in Xhwili village just outside Mthatha.
The incident was brought to the public’s attention a few weeks ago, when cellphone footage of the female teacher interrogating the two pupils went viral.
In the 30-second video, seen by the Dispatch, the pupils involved are standing next to each other in a classroom.
A teacher, who appears to be the one recording, shouts at the little girl and points a finger at her.
Speaking in Xhosa, she asks the child to explain what happened. The girl says the boy told her to kneel, which she did. The boy is then asked to explain his actions. He says he performed a sex act on the girl.
The footage was widely shared on social medias.
Mtima said the department was only alerted to the incident after the footage went viral.
He claims an investigation was immediately launched, but the process was delayed by exams.
“The principal did not report the matter to the department, and disciplinary actions will be taken against him. Our rapid response team could not complete the investigation as quickly as they wanted because they did not want to disrupt the final exams,” he said.
According to the department, the teacher has been identified but when officials wanted to interview her, she refused to participate and produced a letter from her attorney.
The incident has caused outrage among children’s rights activists and education experts.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, CEO of Khula Community Development Project, Petros Majola told the Sunday Times that the incident was “humiliation of the worst kind”. “The kids, mostly the girl victim, will live with this forever,” said Majola.
According to the report by Sunday Times, a suggestion by an education official that they were investigating whether the alleged incident could have been “consensual between the two minors” was strongly rejected and condemned by an expert and the Commission for Gender Equality, who said children under 12 were not considered capable of consent to sexual activities.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Sunday, Mtima said the department agreed the children were too young to give consent.
The Dispatch understands the girl’s family has opened a case of rape against the boy and of crimen injuria against the teacher and that the matter is with the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision.
The principal did not report the matter, and disciplinary actions will be taken against him