A seven-year-old girl from Bergview College in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape was allegedly raped in October last year while waiting for transport. It has taken five months for the public to hear of the incident.
ActionSA said initially, the caretaker, principal and driver were suspects. However, the caretaker and driver have since been cleared after fully cooperating with authorities.
It has now come to light that the principal is refusing to provide DNA samples. What is even more troubling is that the principal allegedly attempted to silence the mother, shifting blame onto her.
AfriForum's private prosecuting unit, which represents the educator, says he is not a suspect in the case and the request for a DNA sample was unjustified.
It said the police have never regarded him as a suspect that would justify their request for a buccal sample for DNA testing.
ActionSA said there were allegations that the child might have been drugged into unconsciousness before being assaulted.
In response, last week the Eastern Cape education department deregistered the school due to its handling of the case. Education MEC Fundile Gade said the decision was taken after the school's principal failed to co-operate with the police investigation, sparking concerns about the safety of pupils.
This case further highlights the lack of commitment to swift justice, especially in cases involving the most vulnerable of our society — children. It raises critical questions about the appetite to fight gender-based violence, which is a pandemic in South Africa.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It is a disgrace that the culture of slow pace in resolving and investigating cases has become normalised
Justice is not served with the urgency that it requires. As if the delay at the investigation level is not enough, once the matter reaches the courts, the families are met with another barrier: clogged court rolls.
Last week, the Sunday Times reported on research by the Teddy Bear Foundation, which found the conviction rate in children's cases is dire, with just 4% reaching finality in acceptable timelines.
In this matter questions need to be asked about why the police have taken such a long time to gather evidence and to bring closure to the girl's family. It would appear that police have dropped the ball in not collecting all the evidence - vital in alleged sexual assault matters — to ensure arrests are made.
Delays in investigating the case could hamper the little girl from seeing justice. However, it seems a podcast with the girl's mother has sparked nationwide attention. A petition calling for justice for the child has gained significant traction on social media.
ActionSA called on the department of basic education and law enforcement agencies to ensure full compliance with the investigation and to take decisive action against any individual obstructing justice.
This then triggered action by the department which deregistered the school for its alleged mishandling of the case.
Several organisations have expressed concern about the incident. Among those is the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, which called on the government to ensure schools were a safe haven for children. The UDM demanded urgent action from the police to expedite the investigation and ensure justice.
It also urged the government to fast-track the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for this crime and review safety policies in schools to ensure all children are protected while in the care of educational institutions.
A petition that started on Thursday with 4,426 signatures had registered 673,564 signatures by Monday morning, illustrating the widespread outrage the case has sparked across the country.
While this petition has highlighted the plight of the little girl, it should not be the norm that people must trend on social media before authorities take action.
Justice delayed is justice denied. It is a disgrace that the culture of slow pace in resolving and investigating cases has become normalised.
Despite the publication of details in various platforms and media, TimesLIVE Premium has declined to name the victim, her mother or the principal in line with journalistic ethics.
For opinion and analysis consideration, e-mail Opinions@timeslive.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.