Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, condemned the recent incidents of gender-based violence where two learners were raped in separate incidents on school grounds.
According to the Department’s Acting Director of Communications,
Nyameka Tokwe-Mgijima, the first incident happened at Zinyosini Primary School in Ntabankulu where a Grade 7 learner (13) was allegedly raped at the school on
June 7, 2022.
She said according to a report provided by the District, the learner was found lying unconscious in one of the
toilets with both her hands tied.
“Police were called to the scene
by educators. They were then advised that the victim should be taken to a
nearby hospital, where a rape incident was confirmed,” Tokwe-Mgijima said.
She added that regarding the second
incident, it is alleged that a Grade 12 learner was allegedly raped by a staff
member at the Bonxa Senior Secondary School in Ntabankulu.
According to her, it is
alleged that the perpetrator repeatedly raped the victim several times in
his office and threatened to kill the victim if she report the matter to
the police.
Gade said he was deeply saddened and ashamed by these acts which
are a clear indication of a moral decay in society.
“The deficiency of
values and principles guiding humanity, schools should be regarded as centres
of community life, not centres of such criminality. As a sector we will strengthen our efforts in fighting these ills within our society that
spill over to our schools,” said Gade.
He added that the department had
dispatched teams to provide psycho-social support to both schools focusing on
learners and educators, which would continue until the schooling has returned
to normality.
