Pupils living in fear of sexual assault at school

Parents of pupils at AB Xuma Primary School in Soweto feel fearful and let down after the Gauteng department of education revealed that a police investigator allegedly molested two grade three girls, aged seven and eight, this week.

They were among 87 pupils allegedly sexually assaulted by a school security guard prior to this incident.

The forensic investigator was at the school to prepare the victims for their court appearances in the case against the guard when he allegedly sexually molested the two.

Nonkululeko Dubasi, who has a daughter at the school, said: “I am afraid and disappointed … The whole thing just frustrates me.

“You see, I went to school here, my other children went to school here. This was such a good school in the area, but now I don’t know what’s happening.

“School is a place of safety, not this … this is too much!”

Mbali Nkomo, another parent whose son attends the school, said: “I feel very bad and also helpless. I don’t feel that it’s safe for my child at this school. Because they start with girls and then they molest boys.”

They were among the parents to whom the school gave newsletters yesterday informing them that a case of sexual assault had been opened at the Orlando police station against the investigator.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Deliwe de Lange said the allegations were “quite serious” and would be handled with the “utmost” caution as it was a sensitive issue that involves minors.

Gauteng police spokesperson Mathapelo Peters said the investigator had been dropped from the task team.

However, some parents doubt there will be any progress in the matter.

Mlungisi Ngeleza said: “I feel like the case is going to collapse in court because the police don’t know what they are doing.

“They brought in the first investigator but ended up replacing him because he didn’t carry out his investigation thoroughly.

“The second officer they brought into this investigation is the one who did this, so the case is not going well. And it’s not even clear how these kids were abused.”

She said parents had their own team looking into the original allegations, but that the school and police were not telling them anything.

“I have two girls in the school and I drop them off [at school] every morning.

“When I got here on Monday, I saw a bunch of parents standing outside and I asked them what was going on. That’s how I found out about the two girls [allegedly being molested by the police investigator].

“Why is it that although this happened on Monday, I only found out on Wednesday through the media? I don’t think we are close to getting any answers, but I do think this will get out of control because parents are angry.”

– jenniffero@citizen.co.za

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