A case of rape was opened at the Benoni Police Station following an alleged sexual attack on a learner at a local school on August 5.
A relative of the learner told the City Times that the mother of the 14-year-old boy could not find him when she went to collect him from school that day.
She eventually found him locked in a classroom.
After they got home the mother said she discovered blood and semen on the child’s underwear.
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She took the child for tests at a clinic, where it was confirmed that he had been raped.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) spokesperson Steve Mabona said the suspected perpetrator, an employee of the school, was suspended with immediate effect and a disciplinary process was instituted.
“The department is deeply concerned about the alleged misconduct of the employee, who is a general worker at the school,” he said.
“We have launched an investigation and the matter has been reported to the police.
“We will request the police to escalate this sensitive case to provincial level for necessary attention.
“Our psycho-social unit was dispatched to the school to conduct necessary intervention to all affected by the incident.”
Mabona added that a social worker visited the family on August 16 to offer counselling to the child and family.
“We can also confirm that the school indeed followed the correct procedures in dealing with the incident as the principal and the learner’s mother took the learner to the nearest clinic for medical observation.
“It is unfortunate and regrettable that such an incident occurred in one of our schools.
“We further appeal to anyone to refrain from all types of misconduct as it has a negative impact on the performance of learners.”