Hell of a school
SPECIAL-NEEDS PUPILS ALLEGEDLY RAPED AND MOLESTED FACILITY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A PRINCIPAL FOR ALMOST A YEAR
A SECURITY guard from a special needs school in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal still reports for duty, despite being accused of molesting pupils.
The guard –at Vulekani Special School Skills and Training Centre for children with various intellectual disabilities – was arrested in March but was released on bail.
Sources at the school said the guard still reported for duty and they feared for the safety of the children. “Most of his victims are still at the school. They come face to face with him every day,” said a source.
An investigation by Sowetan can reveal that allegations of rape and other cases of sexual misconduct date back to 2013 at the school.
In a report compiled by social workers who held dialogues at the school to mark child protection week in May last year, it emerged that a pupil was raped by a fellow schoolmate in the toilets in 2013.
“The matter of [the] child who was raped in school toilets, took place in 2013 on a weekend among the learners. The matter was discussed with the child’s mother and the child was referred to the school psychologist,” the report read in part.
In letters to the circuit manager in Umzimkhulu, the principal reported the ongoing sexual molestation of girls by the security guard, whose name is known to Sowetan.
“He is alleged to have sexually molested schoolgirls who have special educational needs. Upon investigation it transpired that some employees warned him to stop the abuse but he ignored the warning.
“I therefore recommend that he should be charged for misconduct because of the critical nature of the alleged offence,” wrote the principal in June last year.
The principal did not receive a response and wrote again to raise the issue. He would not talk to the Sowetan, saying it was against the education department’s policy.
Umzimkhulu police spokeswoman Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala confirmed that a case of sexual assault had been opened.
“The incident occurred in May 2014. The 41-year-old suspect was arrested and appeared in court for the first time in March 11 this year. He was released on bail. He appeared again on August 26 but we do not have the details from court at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Sowetan can also reveal that the school’s principal has been reporting to the district office, and not at the school, since November following a strike at his school.
A source said the department had tried in vain to take the principal back to the school but every time they did, teachers would go on strike. “They do not want him there because he exposed some teachers for fraud and corruption,” said a source.
Sowetan has also learnt that among the things the principal exposed at the school was fraud and corruption allegedly committed by one of the teachers.
The teacher is accused of misusing more than R13 000 meant for the pupils for personal use. The teacher also allegedly forged a sick note and the principal recommended that an internal investigation should be instituted and that he should be suspended.
The principal would not comment on the matter.