The principal of a Limpopo high school faces charges of rape.
An insider at the school who did not want to be named told Sowetan that the principal was advised not to return to the school. He has been away for the past week. The pupil has also since been moved to another school in another village.
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said a case of rape was opened against the principal at the Namakgale police station on August 10.
The Giyani-based school, and the principal, cannot be named to protect the identity of the 16-year-old pupil who was allegedly raped.
Otto said the principal has not been arrested because the incident allegedly happened in February.
"We are still investigating and working closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the case," Otto said.
Education department spokesman Dr Naledzani Rasila yesterday condemned incidents of sexual abuse at schools. However, he said he did not have direct knowledge of this particular incident.
He said the principal would be subjected to a disciplinary hearing. "Once it goes into the hands of the police we cannot interfere," Rasila said.
South African Council of Educators (Sace) chief executive Rej Brijraj said the council struck 10 educators from the roll during the last financial year after they were found guilty of sexual offences.
Brijraj said next month Sace would publish the names of teachers who have been struck off the roll on their website.
He said this would allow schools to check the teachers' history.
The council reviewed 23 sexual cases for the 2014/15 financial year.
"The council takes such complaints very seriously. The intention is not to name and shame but it is done in the interest of transparency. We want to send out a very strong message that our children should not be abused physically or sexually," Brijraj said.
According to recent parliamentary question papers, there were 525 incidents of violence reported between April 2014 and February 2015 at schools across all the provinces. Cases of sexual misconduct including rape were 86 while corporal punishment and assault stood at 244 cases.
Other reported cases included fraud, murder and racism.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
Principal 'on leave' following 'rape' of pupil
The principal of a Limpopo high school faces charges of rape.
An insider at the school who did not want to be named told Sowetan that the principal was advised not to return to the school. He has been away for the past week. The pupil has also since been moved to another school in another village.
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto said a case of rape was opened against the principal at the Namakgale police station on August 10.
The Giyani-based school, and the principal, cannot be named to protect the identity of the 16-year-old pupil who was allegedly raped.
Otto said the principal has not been arrested because the incident allegedly happened in February.
"We are still investigating and working closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions on the case," Otto said.
Education department spokesman Dr Naledzani Rasila yesterday condemned incidents of sexual abuse at schools. However, he said he did not have direct knowledge of this particular incident.
He said the principal would be subjected to a disciplinary hearing. "Once it goes into the hands of the police we cannot interfere," Rasila said.
South African Council of Educators (Sace) chief executive Rej Brijraj said the council struck 10 educators from the roll during the last financial year after they were found guilty of sexual offences.
Brijraj said next month Sace would publish the names of teachers who have been struck off the roll on their website.
He said this would allow schools to check the teachers' history.
The council reviewed 23 sexual cases for the 2014/15 financial year.
"The council takes such complaints very seriously. The intention is not to name and shame but it is done in the interest of transparency. We want to send out a very strong message that our children should not be abused physically or sexually," Brijraj said.
According to recent parliamentary question papers, there were 525 incidents of violence reported between April 2014 and February 2015 at schools across all the provinces. Cases of sexual misconduct including rape were 86 while corporal punishment and assault stood at 244 cases.
Other reported cases included fraud, murder and racism.
mahopoz@sowetan.co.za
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