Oh by the way, your daughter was assaulted today, school tells dad

A distraught mother of a 14-year-old pupil who was allegedly raped by a teacher at a prominent school in northern KwaZulu-Natal has slammed the principal for the way the matter was handled.

The woman, who has removed her daughter from the school, vehemently denied a written statement made by the governing body that they were immediately informed of the incident.

A 36-year-old teacher appeared in court on Monday, after he was arrested at the school on Friday for the alleged rape.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Thembeka Mbele said the matter was reported to police and the docket was transferred to the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit for further investigation.

She said the suspect was detained until February 28 for a formal bail application.

In a letter on the school’s letterhead, addressed to parents, the governing body said it regretted to inform them “about the traumatic incidents” that took place at the school on Friday.

“We do not have enough words to express our shock and utter dismay. We are sad to state that a departmental educator allegedly sexually assaulted a learner during school time on Friday.”

The letter stated that the parents of the victim were immediately informed.

“The learner was assisted and supported by the school’s psychologist and taken to the hospital crisis centre.”

My husband, who arrived at the school at around 1.10pm, called my daughter on her cellphone and a staff member answered and asked him to come to the office. It was only then that he was informed of the incident.

—  Mother of the 14-year-old pupil

But the mother of the girl said neither the principal nor any other member of staff had contacted them.

She said her daughter reported the matter to the school authorities at about 10.45am on Friday, and up until the time she was fetched by her father at 1.10pm no one had informed them of the incident.

“My husband, who arrived at the school at around 1.10pm, called my daughter on her cellphone and a staff member answered and asked him to come to the office. It was only then that he was informed of the incident.”

The mother, who has three daughters, said the school had not been in touch with them since, adding: “We are very, very angry. The principal did not even have the decency to send us an SMS.

“We are devastated about what has happened to our daughter. We are fairly young parents and we don’t allow our children to go over for sleepovers. We take them to the shops and we don’t let them out of our sight.”

The woman, who made an appointment with a psychiatrist for her daughter on Wednesday, said she was “depressed and very, very down, and was also crying a lot”.

“She is normally bubbly and outgoing but she’s now very sick because she has been put on the antiretroviral therapy programme.

“My daughter definitely won’t be going back to that school. What type of parents will be we be if we allow her to go back?”

She said on Monday close family members removed five of their children from the same school.

The school referred queries to the provincial education department, which did not respond.

According to the letter from the governing body, the reaction to the incident “was violent and extreme and the principal also came under attack”.

“Understandably, the community expressed their anger about the incident. Two counsellors have been appointed to facilitate counselling for the family, staff and learners who need support.”

Tensions ran high on Monday when parents, ANC members and supporters protested outside the school and the court.

A member of the ANC’s constituency office said a departmental official read out a letter stating the teacher was being suspended.

“The children are very traumatised by the incident and are afraid to talk about it,” she said.

During a meeting at the school, addressed by school representatives, some protesters threatened to break down the gate.

“You should be fighting for children’s rights,” shouted some of them.

One of the placards read: “Take a stand against violence.”