Court investigating school abuse claim

Allegations of neglect and humiliation

SEVERE abuse of physically and mentally disabled children by youth care workers at Mdantsane’s Vukuhambe special needs school will be investigated by court order.

The Grahamstown High Court yesterday appointed a curator to investigate allegations that youth care workers and other non-teaching staff at the school: ● Had sex in front of the children; ● Incessantly and cruelly mocked their disabilities;

● Applied corporal punishment and;

● Left them for protracted periods with no care whatsoever.

According to court papers, the provincial education department has done nothing to help the school despite numerous appeals from desperate parents.

But, yesterday the department agreed to the court order.

Parents of children at the school, assisted by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), yesterday told the court that appointing a curator to investigate and make recommendations was the only course open to them.

Chairwoman of the school governing body (SGB), Noncedo Tywala, said in an affidavit that the 20 youth care workers at the school were supposed to assist the 172 disabled pupils with their mobility, medication, washing, going to the toilet and many other activities able-bodied people took for granted.

“Many of the learners are extremely vulnerable and rely on the assistance of adults,” the affidavit said.

Some 119 of the children are boarders.

She said social workers from the social development department and a non-governmental organisation had documented numerous allegations of physical, emotional and psychological abuse.

These include punishing pupils by forcing them to sit in a cold shower, assaulting them and humiliating them by questioning why they bothered to attend school because they would “never achieve anything”.

Claims of sexual abuse had also been made.

She said that ongoing labour disputes at the school had led to the youth care workers constantly abandoning the children for long periods, which had led to severe physical and emotional trauma and even injury.

Volunteers, parents and a few social workers are currently caring for the children.

But, Tywala said the striking care workers and other non-educator staff were loitering around the school causing trouble.

“The atmosphere at the school is toxic. They pass insults at the learners, social workers and parents.”

She said that the curator, after investigating the situation, could make recommendations on changes that needed to be made.

If this did not result in the required change, the curator might resort to court for a court order.

Advocate Sarah Sephton moved the application.

Judge Phakamisa Tshiki appointed advocate Ncumisa Mayosi from the Cape bar as curator ad litem of the minor children at the school.