Mayfield Primary School parents want justice to take its course after a former Grade Four learner was allegedly sexually assaulted at the school by fellow learners in November.
A case of sexual assault was opened at the Putfontein SAPS following allegations that three boys inserted their fingers into the learner’s vagina.
Last month, parents went to the school to demand answers from the principal after allegations surfaced that the school tried to hide the matter from the victim’s parents and the Department of Education.
Community member Thabo Mokhoshi said after they learnt about the matter, they tried to engage with the school about the incident but were told the incident happened outside the school premises.
“It is sad that something like this happened inside the school premises in an environment where we believe our children would be safe.
“Though the school denies the allegations, we feel it is hiding the truth.
“We are planning to escalate the matter to the provincial police because it seems our local police station is not doing anything to help get justice.”
Mokhoshi said angry community members are calling for the dismissal of the principal.
Speaking to the City Times at her Mina Nawe home in Daveyton recently, the devastated mother of the child who was allegedly molested cried throughout the interview.
She said the school and justice system have failed her and her child.
The mother, who cannot be named to protect the child, said she found out her daughter was sexually violated after her child confided in her that three boys at the school pulled her panty down.
“When we went to the school to report the matter, the principal advised us to take her to the clinic to get her checked because there could be more to what she’s telling them. The nurses at the clinic indeed confirmed that she had been violated.”
The 29-year-old mother said she initially went to the school to report that her child was being bullied after she learnt that the three boys were carrying weapons at school, which they used to threaten children.
The mother claimed while she was at the school, the police were called and they allegedly found a gun on one of the three boys.
However, Putfontein SAPS spokesperson Sgt Raider Ubisi said the police found a toy gun on the learner and the discovery was made outside the school premises. The child was not arrested.
“The incident has had a huge impact on my child because she no longer wants to go to school because other children tease her, saying she’s no longer a virgin.
“I even enrolled her at another school this year, but she’s not coping. This has impacted her schoolwork; her marks have dropped.
“Because the matter wasn’t reported to the Department of Education as the principal was trying to hide it, my child hasn’t received psychological support to help her deal with her trauma. She needs help,” said the mother.
“The Putfontein SAPS has also failed me because nothing has happened to the perpetrators and, what’s worse, is I am not updated about the case.”
Ubisi said the case is under investigation and is being handled by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
Gauteng Department of Education responds
According to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona, the child’s parent reported her daughter’s strange behaviour to the principal and was advised to take the child to the clinic for a check-up on November 23, 2021.
“On November 24, based on her visit from the clinic, the parent reported the alleged sexual assault, alleged to have happened at the school, to the principal.
“On the same day, the principal advised the parents of the learner to go to the police station and open a case and bring him the case number to enable him to start compiling a report, since the mother did not bring any records from the clinic to support the allegation,” said Mabona.
Mabona refuted claims that counselling wasn’t offered to the affected child.
“On an allegation that the boys brought a gun to the school, the safety coordinator and the police conducted a search and there was no gun found. The police are investigating circumstances surrounding this incident,” said Mabona.
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