Girl, 13, raped after school bus bungle

The parents of a 13-year-old girl allegedly raped on her way home from school blame the North West department of education’s apparent failure to resume the pupil transport service.

Budget cuts have also left more than 37 000 pupils without transport in Eastern Cape.

A relative, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, said: “Since the schools reopened, the pupils have been walking to and from school, which is far; on the other side of the village.

“They have to walk through the bush and now she has been raped.

“This would not have happened if there was a bus.”

After the alleged incident on Monday, residents of Slagboom and Makobyane closed down three schools – Lebogang High School in Mokobyane, Nyakale Primary School in Mokobyane and Makgobola Setshedi High School in Slagboom.

Afterwards, infuriated residents went searching for the suspect, who allegedly raped the Grade 9 pupil and robbed another pupil of a cellphone.

“The children had the bus when the schools closed last year, but the bus did not show up when the schools reopened. The worst part is that we do not know what is happening,” the relative said.

According to provincial police, three pupils were walking home from school when two were grabbed by a man.

“The other one managed to break free and ran away,” spokesman Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said. “Allegedly, the suspect raped the other girl, who reported the matter later to her parents.”

He confirmed that community members of Lebotlwane, Slagboom and Mokobyane had searched for the suspect.

“During the search, they met a man whom they severely assaulted, despite not being sure if he was the suspect.

“As a result, the man was admitted to hospital.

“Investigation into the matter continues,” Mokgwabone said.

He pleaded with members of the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and report criminal acts to the police for investigation.

“In some instances, innocent people are assaulted and killed during illegal acts of mob justice.”

Provincial department spokesman Elias Malindi said psychologists were providing counselling for the victim and her family.

He said police were following up with the provincial transport department about why there was no bus for the pupils.

“It is their responsibility to provide the bus, we give them the list of schools and routes but we are obviously [trying] to establish what exactly is happening,” Malindi said.