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The primary school girls who were allegedly sexually assaulted by the school’s security guard are badly traumatised but, even if they have to go slowly, they will get justice, said the state prosecutor.
It has been reported that the security guard may have sexually assaulted at least 87 school girls at a Soweto primary school.
The short, elderly man, appeared briefly at the Protea Magistrates’ Court in Soweto, where he was told that his bail application was not ready to be heard.
State prosecutor Cheryl Slack asked Magistrate Herman Badenhorst to postpone the matter for investigation and for an identity parade to be conducted.
“At the moment we are dealing with a total of 15 children who have made written statements,” said Slack.
This prompted Badenhorst to ask Slack where the media had gotten the number of 87 girls when reporting on the matter. When the story initially made headlines, the number of pupils alleged to have been sexually assaulted was 54, however, the number later rose to 87.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed that there were 15 statements in the docket so far.
“We have a total number of 87 learners willing to come forward and give us statements, but so far there are only 15...”
Mjonondwane said that from the 15 statements obtained, the man currently faced three charges of rape and five charges of sexual assault.
“It is going to be a long process because we are dealing with kids and some of them are really traumatised because this is a very sensitive case.
“We will be moving at a snail’s pace but we urge the public to bear with us… We will be working very hard to make sure that these children receive justice.”
Read: We need to set the example
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said that the suspect, who is in his 50s and is known to the community, allegedly began assaulting the children, ranging from Grade R to Grade 7, in February.
City Press reported on Sunday that the principal of the school learnt as early as February that the scholar patroller was allegedly sexually assaulting her young pupils.
But she allegedly told the children not to tell their parents because she was “still investigating” the matter.
Parents told City Press that Maria Mthimkhulu failed to act when the alleged abuse was reported to her shortly after the man began working at the school.
And now the number of pupils the scholar patroller allegedly raped and sexually violated has risen to 87.
This latest figure is based on reports made to counsellors from the department of social development as well as non-governmental organisation the Teddy Bear Clinic, the Gauteng education department said.
Read: Soweto school guard accused of sexual assault ‘seemed like an angel’
It was only on September 26, after a grandparent reported an incident to the principal, that all educators were instructed to question the pupils.
The man was reportedly arrested on October 9. He would return to court next Wednesday. – News24
