Education department launches blitz on independent schools amid Cwecwe rape case

Education department launches blitz on independent schools amid Cwecwe rape case

As schools reopened on Tuesday, the Eastern Cape Department of Education announced a blitz operation targeting independent schools in the province.

The move follows growing public outrage over the handling of a sexual violence case involving a seven-year-old girl, known as Cwecwe, at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.

The oversight blitz began on Tuesday and aims to clamp down on non-compliance and potential irregularities in private institutions that receive government subsidies.

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Parliament slams delayed Cwecwe case

The portfolio committee on basic education in parliament expressed anger on Friday during a briefing with the education department.

The committee questioned the delayed response from the school principal, who reportedly failed to alert authorities immediately after becoming aware of the assault.

“We are not satisfied with the explanations,” said acting committee chairperson Sedukanelo Tshepo Louw.

“We will urgently apply to visit that school on an oversight visit to the Eastern Cape. This is an independent school that receives a government subsidy. They must account.”

Louw emphasised that the case had captured the nation’s attention and exposed concerning gaps in the oversight of independent schools.

“This tragic incident has not only shaken the community but also raised critical questions regarding the safety and welfare of our children,” he said.

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Blitz to enforce compliance

The committee heard that the South African Schools Act had been incorrectly followed.

As part of its response, the provincial education department has launched an oversight blitz on independent schools.

The goal is to ensure compliance with national policies, safety standards, and staff vetting procedures.

“We must advocate for stringent measures to prevent such incidents in future,” said Louw.

“The urgency of these measures cannot be overstated.”

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Allegations and oversight failures

According to the committee, the principal became aware of the incident involving Cwecwe on 14 October 2024 but failed to report it to the circuit manager.

The incident only came to the department’s attention on 19 November, when a whistle-blower alerted authorities. By then, a full month had passed.

The principal claimed he reported the matter to the South African Police Service and the Thuthuzela Care Centre, but no documentation could be found to confirm this.

Meanwhile, three staff members were requested to undergo DNA testing. One of them — the principal — refused to comply.

The provincial department of education initially revoked the school’s registration, but had to reverse its decision after the school challenged the move based on legal grounds.

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