Johannesburg - It was a high-tempered affair when parents of a Soweto primary school where 87 learners to allegedly been "molested" by a scholar patroller met with Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi on Sunday.
This comes as the school governing body (SGB) at A.B. Xuma Primary School laid the blame for the "tardy" actions in reporting alleged sexual abuses at the school squarely at the feet of Ms. Mthimkhulu, the headmistress.
This was in response to a few angry parents, who were infuriated by the steep rise in the number of "molested" learners without the school management picking it up.
#ABXumaPrimary: Parents, community chant "Let Her Speak"; calling for Gogo who first reported 'molestation' to speak. @ReporterStar, @IOL. pic.twitter.com/dtUwGX1vHg
— Khaya Sibulele Koko (@khayakoko88) October 15, 2017
On Wednesday, The Star reported that a 57-year-old man was under arrest on sexual assualt charges for allegedly violating schoolgirls as young as 6-years-old.
#ABXumaPrimary: Gogo who first reported 'violation' gives a harrowing timeline of events. Strong African Woman! @ReporterStar; @IOL. pic.twitter.com/uhbEf7jew7
— Khaya Sibulele Koko (@khayakoko88) October 15, 2017
Refiloe Raphodile, a member of the SGB, said they were made aware of the allegations on September 26, a few days before schools closed for the end of term.
"When we wanted information from her (principal) in terms of opening a case against mkhulu (grandpa), she hid the information from the SGB, including the list of 54 names of schoolgirls who originally complained (to teachers) about being molested," Rapodile said.
The complaints followed an instruction from the principal to her teachers that they should ask learners whether they were also sexually assaulted by the patroller, following the whistle being blown by a grandmother with grandchildren at the school.
The chair of the SGB Nsizwa Lukhele said, however, that the body was "devastated and heartbroken" by what he called the shame that "had befallen a school with a rich history".
The school's principal was suspended earlier this week along with the management team, and MEC Lesufi said it was a Catch 22 situation to suspend them or not.
"But when something like this happens, people need to account, including myself," Lesufi asserted. He announced that new teachers would be arriving at the school on Monday, "as no child will be disadvantaged because of a lack of teachers".
#ABXumaPrimary: MEC @Lesufi addresses parents, community. @ReporterStar @IOL. pic.twitter.com/plzBiSamJy
— Khaya Sibulele Koko (@khayakoko88) October 15, 2017
Lesufi further said that a new security company would also be arriving on Monday to "overhaul" the school's security system.
He apolgised to the families and the community, acknowleding that his department "had failed (the) children".
Meanwhile, the MEC also announced that a 17-year-old girl was also allegedly raped by a school patroller in Pretoria. Lesufi said preliminary reports show that a rape had occurred, after he received an anonymous call from a learner, where he would be visiting the Pretoria school on Monday.
@khayakoko88.