Number of abused primary school kids now 83
Top management and principal removed
The number of pupils who were allegedly sexually assaulted by a patroller at a Soweto primary school has increased to 83.
This comes a day after the 56year-old guard appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on charges of sexual assault.
This week, Sowetan reported that 54 pupils at AB Xuma Primary School in Orlando East had come forward with allegations that they were sexually assaulted by the man.
“It is with great sadness to inform that we have just received confirmation from officials that the number of sexually assaulted learners at AB Xuma Primary has increased to 83,” said Gauteng education department spokesman Steve Mabona yesterday.
Earlier in the day, Mabona announced that the principal and the entire senior management at the school had been removed with immediate effect.
He said the department will engage with the School Governing Body to establish reasons why it should not be dissolved.
Mabona said an independent body had been appointed to investigate all allegations levelled against the principal and management.
He said they were satisfied with the counselling process conducted by a multidisciplinary team, made up of department officials, departments of social development, health and the Teddy Bear Clinic.
The patroller was remanded in custody and is expected to appear again next week. Meanwhile, education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said bringing in security personnel to protect pupils who alleged they had been racially insulted by a handful of teachers at the Klipspruit West High School in Eldorado Park was “not ideal but was productive”.
He was answering questions by the SA Human Rights Commission on how his office had handled the racism allegations that resulted in the disruption at the school.
Lesufi said the community‚ teachers and affected parents had accepted the introduction of the security personnel as a temporary solution.