Primary school rape shocker
THE rape at school of a seven-year-old girl, allegedly by a Grade 7 learner, is under specialised police investigation.
While the victim is suffering intense trauma, distraught residents from the rural community of Gobandlovu outside eSikhaleni are also grappling to come to terms with the brutal attack, and are fearing for the safety of their own children at school.
Parents flocked to Gobandlovu Primary School on Monday to demand answers from the school and police, a week after the incident occurred.
"The suspect must be found and arrested. Our children are not safe," they said.
The victim was reportedly raped inside the school toilets last Tuesday, and according to her initial reports, the perpetrator is a Grade 7 pupil.
The victim's distraught mother (32), a vendor at the school who cannot be named for her child's protection, told the ZO she suspected something was wrong with her daughter when she walked out of the school gate on the day of the incident.
“She is normally a bubbly child but that day she seemed upset and decided to walk home by herself. When I asked her what happened, she didn't want to say,” she said.
According to the mother, her suspicions were confirmed when she looked in the laundry basket.
“The underwear and leggings she was wearing on the day were soaked with blood and I knew she was too young to have her period.
“When I asked, she began sobbing, and later said two boys from Grade 7 chased her into the toilet and one raped her,” explained the mother.
The matter was reported to the school the following day and the victim was taken to Ngwelezana Hospital where a rape investigation was conducted at the Thuthuzela Centre.
A case of rape was opened at eSikhawini SAPS before being moved to the Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
However, in a surprising twist, the victim reportedly failed to identify her attacker and pointed out several suspects in a line-up at the school.
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According to her mother, the young victim is having nightmares and grappling to come to terms with her ordeal.
“She screams in the middle of the night, and cries ‘he is here to get me again’.
”My child is suffering and she can’t even sleep. There is nothing I can do to help, and it breaks my heart.
“Her innocence has been taken away, and now she is a different child. I hope the police can identify the attacker so our children can be safe,” she said.
While the girl's mother takes care of her fragile and wounded child, the community is demanding the police and school work together in finding the suspect.
However, during a confrontation between parents and the school, community leader Cllr Mondli Mthethwa said they would work with all stakeholders to ensure justice for the young victim.
He also stressed the importance of working together, saying the school already faces challenges with pupils carrying guns and knives at school.
The victim will begin her trauma counselling next week.
Her clothes were soaked with blood