Girl ‘forced to face attacker at school’

AS SOUTH Africans campaign for the end of violence against women and children, a teenage special-needs pupil, who was allegedly raped at school, has had to return to face her attacker.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education was allegedly unable to transfer the 13-year-old girl to another facility, and her mother was left with no choice but ensure her schooling continued.

The girl, who cannot be named, was allegedly raped during a school lunch break in March.

She claimed the 15-year-old boy who allegedly assaulted her also threatened to kill her if she told anyone.

“After months of meetings with the school, social workers and the department, I was told earlier this month that my child could not be transferred and that the decision to send her back to school was mine,” said the mother.

“This was the hardest decision I have had to make. I knew she would run into this boy, but what other choice did I have? Our only other option was private schooling, but we cannot afford it.”

Before deciding, the unemployed mother of two spoke to her daughter.

“She missed school and her friends and wanted to go back, but was scared. The principal and a department official agreed that if she went back, a teacher would accompany her at all times,” she said.

“My daughter has been attending school for two weeks. When she comes home, I enquire about her day and encourage her not to be afraid of speaking out if she feels scared about anything.”

Her daughter, she said, had not yet seen her alleged attacker.

The founder of the children’s rights group Bobbie Bear, Jackie Branfield, said the laws pertaining to children, especially those who have special needs, had to be revisited.

“It is not easy for this child to go back to the school given the trauma of the incident. The fact that she was hurting herself is proof of the effects the rape had on her.”

Branfield said while she understood the challenges both children have, the school and the department needed to investigate the alleged actions of the boy and the threats he made against her.

The young girl attended mainstream school until the age of 10, but her teacher found she was not coping. After an assessment, it was found she was a slow learner and was transferred to a special needs school.

The girl’s family learnt about the alleged rape in August.

She had lost weight and acted strangely, her mother said.

The child burnt herself with a hot hair straightener and crushed a light bulb with her fingers.

She then told her mother what had happened.

The school declined to comment and department spokesperson Muzi Mhlambi said the matter was under police investigation.