Residents backed the child’s mother and grandmother, storming the school and calling for leadership changes.
Peter Luhanga
- Community leader Nolufefe Mbambo says the family sought her help after hospital confirmed child had been raped.
- Police say a suspect has been arrested and the case handed to specialist detectives.
- Education officials say SAPS is investigating and urge residents not to disrupt schooling or spread unverified claims.
A seven-year-old grade 1 child was allegedly raped at Witsand Primary in Atlantis at school on Wednesday, triggering days of anger in the community, with residents marching on the school, demanding accountability, and urging officials to explain how the attack could have happened.
From Thursday right through to Monday, crowds backing the girl’s mother and grandmother confronted the principal, insisted on seeing CCTV footage, and shouted for someone to be held to account.
Crowds took over the street outside the school, burning tyres and bringing John Dreyer Street to a standstill, cutting off the route to the Atlantis factories and the R304.
Witsand community leader and former ANC proportional representation councillor Nolufefe Mbambo, who served in Subcouncil 2 from 2016 to 2021, said the child’s mother and grandmother arrived at her home on Thursday afternoon after seeking help at the school earlier in the day.
Mbambo said they told her they had taken the child to Wesfleur Hospital on Wednesday, where a doctor confirmed the child had been raped.
She said the mother had gone to the school on Thursday to report the incident and request access to CCTV footage, but was told that investigators would handle that aspect of the case and that she should leave it to them.
The mother then asked whether the child could be allowed into her classroom to identify the alleged perpetrator, and the principal declined, telling her that investigators needed space to conduct their work.
Mbambo said the mother was further unsettled by what she described as a suggestion from the child’s class teacher that she should consider not opening a criminal case and instead seek assistance from the Department of Social Development, which could provide counselling.
Distressed by the exchanges, the mother and grandmother went to Mbambo’s home, where they explained what had happened.
Mbambo said the account quickly spread through the community, prompting residents to gather at the school from Thursday through Monday to demand accountability.
She said several non-profit organisations and political parties later joined the demonstrations.
She said anger spilled into the streets, with residents setting tyres alight before she intervened, reminding them that one of the roads they had targeted had only recently been repaired.
She said the demonstrations, which intensified on Monday morning, ended at about 2 pm.
“The community is angry. They say they do not want the principal because they do not know where he comes from or anything about his history. They also want the deputy principal removed,” she said.
“We are deeply disappointed. How can a child be raped at school during learning hours?”
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the allegations were brought to the attention of the school on Thursday, after which the school alerted the district office.
Hammond said the pupil is receiving support from district officials, the Department of Social Development, and a local non profit organisation.
She said the incident has been reported to the South African Police Service, which is investigating the circumstances of the case.
“SAPS was present at the school on Friday and again today [Monday] to conduct an investigation. Security footage was viewed,” she said.
She said the identity and age of the alleged perpetrator had not yet been confirmed, and it remained unclear whether the incident involved someone at the school or whether it occurred on school grounds.
“We await more information from SAPS,” she said.
While acknowledging the community’s frustration, she appealed for calm.
“We ask the community to refrain from disrupting schooling or spreading rumours until the facts have been established. There are many allegations circulating, and until SAPS releases more concrete information we cannot comment further,” she said.
Western Cape provincial police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk said a case of rape was opened at Atlantis police station on Thursday, 13 November.
Van Wyk confirmed that, according to the report, a seven-year-old child was allegedly raped at a school in Atlantis.
He said the matter has since been assigned to the Milnerton Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation.
“The suspect was arrested, investigations continues,” said Van Wyk. — Ends