There have been reports of another alleged sexual assault of a grade 2 girl pupil at Johannesburg’s Laerskool Dalmondeor.
According to the department of education in Gauteng, one of the school’s general assistants was involved in the incident, which allegedly happened in one of the cloakrooms on Wednesday last week.
The accused remains in custody following his arrest on Tuesday [this week] and will be precautionarily removed from his position pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a statement issued by the department on Thursday, the victim’s mother said her daughter was sexually assaulted by the staff member after filing a case at Mondeor police station on the day of the incident.
“Details surrounding the incident remain limited, and the school was unaware of the allegations until police arrived to apprehend the suspect nearly a week later, said Steve Mabona, the spokesperson for the department.
“The South African Police Service is actively investigating the matter to establish the full circumstances.”
He further said that the department has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of learners, highlighting that accusations of this nature are treated with the utmost seriousness.
MEC condemns attack on girl learner
Matome Chiloane, the MEC for education in Gauteng, said it is heartbreaking that a child could be subjected to such trauma in a place meant to nurture and protect them.
“We condemn this alleged act in the strongest terms and call for the law to take its full course,” said Chiloane.
The incident has cast a shadow over Child Protection Week, a national campaign dedicated to promoting the rights, safety, and dignity of children.
Chiloane highlighted the irony of the timing.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the urgent need to strengthen protective measures in all learning environments and ensure that no child is ever subjected to harm while under our care,” he said.
Another incident of the same nature happened in March, where a Nal’ibali practitioner allegedly sexually assaulted a grade 3 learner at Braamfischerville Primary School.
In that case, a parent reported the incident to the school.
