Department blames ’misunderstanding’

THE provincial education department says a “misunderstanding” led to the school not alerting the parents to the fact that their daughter had been raped on the premises.

“According to the school, they contacted the father telephonically on March 6 after learning of the incident,” said communications director Paddy Attwell.

“They apparently told him they wanted to discuss a serious matter and asked him to come to school. They did not want to discuss the details on the telephone. They called several times after that and the father eventually came to the school on March 13 when he learnt of the nature of the alleged incident.”

He said the boys’ disciplinary hearing had concluded on March 27.

The finding was “inconclusive” because the girl could not give evidence while a police investigation was under way and the boys denied any “wrongdoing”.

He said the department had offered to help with placing the girl at another Mitchells Plain school. “But the family indicated that they wished to apply to a school in Camps Bay.” — Nashira Davids