Rape suspect at New Brighton High School: Government must intervene

Annette Lovemore, Shadow Minister of Basic Education
22 May 2012

Education director in Port Elizabeth, Dr Nyathu Ntsiko, and MEC for Social Development, Pemmy Majodina, in the Eastern Cape must immediately intervene in the rape case at New Brighton high school.

It is unconscionable that Dr Ntsiko has made a decision not to intervene at New Brighton High school, where a 20-year-old Grade 10 rape suspect is still attending classes with two of his alleged victims.

This cannot, under any circumstances, be written off as “family issues” until the outcome of a court case. We are dealing with young lives here that need to be protected from unnecessary trauma.

We are demanding that two steps be taken immediately.

First, the Education Department has the responsibility to intervene and ensure that these girls are safeguarded. These learners should be able to feel safe in a public institution which has the direct capacity to protect them. Rather, they are being further victimised by having to face their alleged rapist every day.

Second, if the alleged rapist and victims are still living in the same house, then the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development must intervene to remove him from the home environment of his victims.

The situation has become untenable and it is unacceptable for these girls to be subjected to further distress.

It is time for these two departments to step up and ensure that these girls are protected from further abuse and exploitation.