Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi with one parent who has evidence of the 32 alleged assaults. (Her face has been blurred to protect her and her child's identity)
Parents of pupils at Parktown Boys’ High School revealed shocking allegations during a meeting with Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi this week, the Rosebank Killarney Gazette reports.
Lesufi had called the assembly on Thursday night in order to discuss the findings of a report by the department following allegations of sexual abuse and racism.
One parent, who had been given carte blanche by the headmaster and the school governing body (SGB) to investigate the allegations, said that when the evidence was presented to the headmaster and the SGB, they allegedly tried to conceal the information.
“I was here from 2014 and I’ve witnessed first-hand what has happened to our boys. One child was too much. Thirty-two were evidenced, properly damaged, anally penetrated every night,” said the parent.
She added that the impact the abuse had had on pupils had been severe.
“We have suicidal boys wanting to jump off of buildings because they have to smile and wave, put on the boater [hat] and uphold the Parktown way.”
Nicholas Greyling, the former chairperson of the SGB, said that there had never been any intention to hide the information in the report.
“We had a plan of action, where the information was going to be handed over.
“Myself and Mr [Kevin] Stippel (the acting headmaster) at that stage had made an appointment with the head of the department to bring him up to speed with what was happening. Unfortunately, when we got to that meeting we were told that the meeting had already taken place by members of the governing body, hostel and a parent member.”
The report presented by the department revealed there was evidence against four of the nine teachers who were implicated. However, some parents voiced their concerns that the report was not comprehensive enough.
Another man, the uncle of a pupil at the school, said he had to attend the meeting because the child’s mother was unable to attend because of the trauma the incident had caused.
He raised the allegation of Deep Heat Rub being applied to pupils’ genitals, pleading with Lesufi to delve deeper into the collected evidence.
Two of the four teachers implicated in racism and sexual assault are employed by the school, while the other two are employed by the department.
“One who is employed by the school has already resigned and we have instructed our legal team to immediately notify the South African Council of Educators, so they can be blacklisted and not allowed to teach,” said Lesufi.
The other teacher employed by the school will be going through a disciplinary process.
Lesufi added that because the report implicated two teachers hired by the department they would be able to act against them. The National Prosecuting Authority will also be looking into the allegations.
– Caxton News Service
Also read: Parktown Boys’ High polo coach accused of rape to go on trial in July
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