Grade one learner allegedly assaulted by classmates at Fisantekraal School

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said they were made aware of a serious allegation of the assault of a Grade one learner allegedly at the hands of three fellow learners at a Fisantekraal school- who is believed to have beaten her in the stomach and shoved toilet paper into her private part. The WCED confirmed that disciplinary action was being taken against the learners.

On Tuesday, during a heart-wrenching interview with the Cape Argus, the girl’s mother said her seven-year-old daughter had developed a liver infection following the attack.

The family has not opened a case with police as yet while waiting for guidance from the Thuthuzela centre. The incident allegedly took place inside a toilet on the school grounds on November 7.

“She came home and just went to lay on her bed after school,” said the mother. “She said she was attacked inside the toilet and that one of the boys beat her on the stomach five times. The one boy shoved toilet paper inside her.”

"The mother explained that her daughter continues to suffer in pain and that doctors are treating her for a liver infection: “The toilet paper had turned green when it came out. She goes to the toilet every ten minutes and she is in a lot of pain and is bleeding.” She added that her once vibrant child was now “in a zombie-state” and did not want to eat.

Bronagh Hammond of the WCED confirmed the boys were interviewed and that all necessary protocols were being followed with the various departments.

“According to the school, on 7 November, a parent reported a serious allegation involving her child to the class teacher. The teacher escalated the matter to the principal who immediately convened a meeting with the involved parents and confirmed that the allegation had been reported to the police by the parent,” she said. “The school followed all mandated protocols, including completing and submitting a Form 22 to the assigned social worker.

"The case was also reported to Safe Schools and the Department of Social Development (DSD). Disciplinary procedures have also been instituted as per the school’s code of conduct. The identified alleged perpetrators have been interviewed. The school is cooperating fully with the investigation led by the police and social services. The matter remains under investigation by the relevant authorities.”

Vanessa Le Roux of Parents for Equal Education called for better supervision of female learners: “The law must run its course, we need to have stricter supervision for foundation phase children as the perpetrators are also the same age. What about the victim, the healing, the process from the WCED is too slow now this child has to go for an operation.”

The case comes just days after the police and the WCED confirmed it was investigating an alleged rape of a seven-year-old learner at a primary school in Atlantis.

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus