Ther family of a 15-year-old schoolgirl allegedly raped at a high school in central Johannesburg on Thursday was "paying a fortune for her to go to a better school".

Three boys allegedly drugged two girls and gang-raped one of them on a sports fields at Jules High School, in Jeppestown.

At least 10 other pupils watched the alleged rape and some recorded it on their cellphones.

Yesterday, police arrested two boys, aged 14 and 16, in Main Street, Jeppestown, in connection with the alleged rape.

Police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini said one of the boys was a pupil of Jules High School and that the other attended a high school in Auckland Park.

A third suspect had not been identified by the witnesses the police were interviewing, he said.

The victim's uncle said yesterday: "I've never seen [her] drink. She never took any liquor - even at Christmas".

He was refuting media reports that the victim had been seen drinking with the accused before the incident, and reports that she had been a willing participant in the sex act.

"[They are] twisting and turning the story. It's on the internet and Twitter and Facebook, and they're saying nasty things about her."

The girl was not at home when The Times visited the family yesterday. She was with a counsellor.

"She is not doing well. Imagine a 15-year-old that's been raped," said her uncle.

"We don't want this to be a suicide case."

He said the victim and a friend were offered a cooldrink by the three boys.

"As soon as she took the first sip she was dizzy," he said.

The girl's tearful mother claimed teachers had said her daughter "deserved what happened to her because she was drunk, but I've never seen her drink. It was such a shock to us."

She said she paid R500 a month for her daughter to attend what she had thought was a good school.

The uncle said the family was unhappy with the way the school had handled the matter.

"The two girls went to the office to report the rape but the headmaster said they must go to the police station.

"He didn't even bother to call the police."

Gauteng MEC for education Barbara Creecy said yesterday that the Education Department was engaging the services of an independent investigator to report on what disciplinary action should be taken, if any, against pupils, teachers and school management.

Creecy said that "unfounded allegations blaming the victim are inappropriate and irresponsible".

Gauteng Education Department spokesman Charles Phahlane said the principal could not comment while the matter was being investigated.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said yesterday: "I call on the police to treat the case as a priority so that the alleged perpetrators can be brought to book."

Creecy said end-of-year exams had been postponed for the two boys arrested.

They will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court soon.