Pupils expelled for raping boy of 11

Two pupils of a primary school in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, have been expelled after the Gauteng department of education found them guilty of raping an 11-year-old boy in the school toilets.

The Grade 6 pupil was raped more than two weeks ago by a 17-year-old Grade 7 pupil while a 15-year-old was at the bathroom door to keep other pupils out.

Provincial education department spokesman Charles Phahlane said the 15-year-old pupil will be placed at a different school.

"[He] will need to attend a diversion programme on behavioural change through an institution recommended and monitored by the department," he said.

Phahlane said that the department has recommended that the 17-year-old pupil attend vocational training or be placed at an adult education centre.

The victim's mother said: "I want these boys to be taught a lesson, not just expelled.

"[My son] has become worryingly withdrawn and is screaming in terror in his sleep. He loved school but now does not want to go to school any more. He has lost interest in his books and now he wants to go away. I am even considering pulling him out of that school," she said.

After the incident, the mother had to walk to the local clinic - 10km away - with her child in tow, only to be referred to another clinic where she was told that she first had to report the incident to the police before her son could be examined.

She managed to open the case only on Monday after her son was examined at the Dr George Mukhari Hospital, in Ga-rankuwa.

"The doctor confirmed that he was penetrated and referred him for psychiatric treatment at the local social development centre."

The deputy chairman of the school governing body, Ace Choko, said that the governing body was investigating allegations that the school's management tried to coerce the mother into settling the matter with the parents of the assailants.

He said the 17-year-old had 12 complaints - including the groping of girls - against him but the governing body learned of this only on the day of the rape.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Llifi Ramatlo said: "No arrests have been made because the suspects are minors."