Task team set up to probe school security guard abuse claim

enough vetting processes for employees at its schools, TTBC founder and director Dr Shaheda Omar has said Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has “really come to the table” in wanting to work out a system to prevent such horrors in the future.

It won’t be easy, she told the Saturday Star, but the implementation of a multidisciplinary task team could make all the difference in altering the screening procedures for school employees.

Omar said the guard, meant to keep children safe and be their protector, had abused his role as an adult.

“The perpetrators of such abuses are usually adults,” she said.

But it wasn’t always adults committing these crimes. The TTBC and Education Department have also recently become involved with another case of child-onchild sexual assault.

The Panorama Primary School in Roodepoort had to intervene after one of its Grade 4 pupils was allegedly raped by a former 13-year-old pupil at the townhouse complex where they both lived.

Concerned parents contacted the Saturday Star about the incident and, when asked for comment, principal Graeme Moodie said he was flabbergasted that the media had become involved.

He insisted the school had done everything in its power to help its 10-year-old pupil, and that legally his school had been “compliant”.

However, at the time of the interview earlier this month, he was unable to say exactly what help the pupil had received, only that the deputy principal had handled the incident.

However, Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that both the perpetrator and victim had been referred to the Krugersdorp branch of the TTBC for intensive counselling.

“The department is aware and deeply concerned about the allegation of sexual assault… Upon the receipt of the complaint from the parents, we immediately intervened and counselling was offered to the affected pupil.

“The psycho-social support services will check if the girl is receiving specialist support and counselling from The Teddy Bear Clinic, which she was referred to by her parents,” Mabona said.

“The team will ensure that they apply more efforts for her to be reintegrated into the schooling environment and will also play a significant role in making her feel comfortable in class.

“The perpetrator will also be referred to The Teddy Bear clinic to attend rehabilitation programmes. The pupil will continue to receive support from the departmental psycho-social support services and relevant NGOs,” he said.

Omar confirmed the pair had both started their counselling, with separate social workers taking on each case.