Principal of the school were the rape of girl (7) allegedly happened did not report the matter

JOHANNESBURG - The principal of the school where the rape of a seven-year-old learner is alleged to have happened, allegedly did not report the matter after the mother of the child raised alarm.

The Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has lashed out at the headmaster over the case.

ALSO READ: Matatiele family wants justice following 6-year-old boy's rape

She is in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, visiting the family of the little girl after her mother took to social media decrying what she termed the little to no help she received from law enforcement officials investigating the matter.

The timeline of events indicates that the mother of the seven-year-old girl reported the rape to school on 16 October 2024, and police visited the institution on the 31st of that month as part of investigations.

But Chikunga alleges that the principal did not immediately report the matter to his seniors.

The principal also alleged that he was not on the campus where the crime is alleged to have taken place, but Chikunga was less than impressed by the account of the headmaster.

"He did not report this within the prescripts. The mother reported the case. He was supposed to immediately to report to the seniors, the structures above - he didn't until the 19th, when the department of education seniors went to school. It cannot be so he can't then say I was far."

The minister further bemoaned the principal, accusing him of attempting to preserve his rights at the expense of the children at the school.