Boarding school rape probe

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is investigating an alleged sexual assault at a Durban boarding school.

The Mercury’s sister paper Isolezwe reported yesterday that a parent had removed their 12-year-old son from the school after he had told them he had been molested by another pupil.

The school’s name is known to The Mercury but has been withheld.

According to the report, the boy was in Grade 7 and had been attending the school as a boarder for two years. He said the molestation by a fellow pupil had been going on for some time. The parent was alerted to the issue by a teacher at the school.

Education Department spokesman Muzi Mahlambi said yesterday that while the department applauded the teacher for bringing the matter to the fore, it should have been reported to the principal and to the department.

“A rape is a rape, whether an adult or a pupil commits it,” he said.

However, Mahlambi said the department was pleased that a criminal case had already been opened. “That is where we, ultimately, would have taken the matter – to police,” he said.

The department was only alerted to the matter via yesterday’s media report but had since tasked district officials with investigating.

Police spokeswoman Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed that a case of rape was opened at the Sydenham police station and transferred to the Inanda family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit.

No arrests have been made.