Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has received reports of allegations of sexual abuse of learners by a pensioner who resides at a plot near Riversand Primary School in Diepsloot.
MEC Lesufi will visit Riversand Primary today to assess the situation.
“The objective of the visit is for MEC Lesufi to interact with the school management and all stakeholders accordingly,” the department said in statement.
An investigation has been launched by the department and the police are still to determine whether to charge the alleged perpetrator or not. These allegations come amid a series of reports at various schools of sexual assault incidents.
In October, the department was inundated with various cases across the province, most notably from AB Xuma Primary School in Orlando East, where a 57 year-old man allegedly assaulted 87 pupils.
At a school in Mamelodi and Benoni, a 17-year-old girl and grade 8 pupil, respectively, were raped in incidents outside the school premises following a school function that took place prior.
It is alleged that the 17-year-old girl was under the influence of alcohol brought by fellow pupils to the school function and the alleged perpetrator took advantage of her. The security guard has since been dismissed.
In the case of the grade 8 pupil, a fellow grade 10 learner was alleged to be the perpetrator. The school suspended the boy, pending a disciplinary hearing. Counselling was offered to all affected learners. An investigation has been launched into allegations that the boy has also raped another two pupils at the same school. - SAnews.gov.za
