'Schools are becoming crime scenes'

Groups demand the education department take action on sexual violence in schools as the rape of a seven-ycar-old comes under the spotlight

- Umamah Bakharia

In the wake of a rise in reported cases of sexual violence in schools, including the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl, civil society and government leaders are calling for urgent and systemic reform of how schools protect pupils.

The grade two learner, referred to as “Cwecwe”, was allegedly raped while waiting for transport at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, in October. The incident attracted attention last month when the child’s mother appeared on a Hope Revolution podcast expressing disappointment at the way the school had handled the assault.

The hashtag #JusticeForCwecwe has gained significant traction on social media and prompted a petition that has garnered more than 243000 signatures, calling on the basic education department to improve its school safety measures.

Nonprofit organisation Sonke Gender Justice has criticised the “shortcomings” of the justice system and is advocating for increased oversight by the basic education department on school safety protocols.

“Schools must be safe havens of learning and development — instead they are becoming crime scenes where children suffer unspeakable violations,” its co-executive director Bafana Khumalo said.

According to the Eastern Cape department of basic education’s spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima, the sector has several measures in place to address and prevent sexual abuse in schools, such as the National School Safety Framework.

“This framework serves as a management tool for education officials, principals and school governing bodies to identify and manage risks related to violence, including sexual abuse,” Mtima said.