Ex-school bus driver jailed for sexually assaulting pupil

DURING Children's Month - and amid renewed national outrage over gender-based violence (GBV) – a former Kuruman school bus driver has been convicted for the sexual assault of a seven-year-old pupil.

- SANDI KWON HOO

As South Africans were preparing for today's nationwide "Turning Purple" economic shutdown - a mass protest calling for GBV to be declared a National State of Disaster - the Kuruman Regional Court has finalised another disturbing case highlighting the extreme vulnerability of children.

A former school bus driver, Allan Charles Reed, 65, has been convicted and sentenced for sexually assaulting a primary school pupil in Seoding village, near Kuruman.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Northern Cape spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said that the incident occurred in 2014 when the then seven-year-old pupil boarded the school bus.

"The driver invited her to sit in the driver's seat under the pretext of teaching her how to change gears. When she approached, he proceeded to touch her inappropriately on her private parts. The pupil later informed her parents about the discomfort and trauma she had experienced.

Her parents reported the matter to the school principal. However, no record of the complaint was filed with the Department of Education, nor were any steps taken to address the driver's behaviour.