The Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, must immediately suspend the principal of Khensani Primary School in Soshanguve, following a now confirmed rape incident at the school.
This follows surfacing allegations of neglect and dereliction of duty by the principal in failing to report this incident timeously to the relevant law enforcement and Education Department authorities. If the allegations are indeed true, the principal’s conduct amounts to a betrayal of the duty of care owed to the young child, an innocent victim of sexual predation, and every other child at the school.
During our visit to the school, ActionSA was shocked to learn that despite reports of an ongoing investigation, with general workers marked as the prime suspects, all these workers have not been placed on precautionary suspension, pending the outcomes of the investigation. This only serves to further endanger learners at the school.
The Education Department must act quickly to protect the safety of learners by suspending the principal and general workers immediately.
It is unacceptable that the Education Department and the school have not taken parents and the community into their confidence regarding this incident – which took place over a week ago.
Schools are supposed to be safe havens for our children. Incidents such as the rape of a child at school cannot be treated as business as usual. ActionSA will closely monitor the events at this school and fight for the safety of our children.
