The severity and sexual brutality inflicted on young, innocent and defenceless girls and women in general cuts deep into all our hearts. The alleged rape of a 13 year old grade 6 learner at a farm school near Oranjeville in Metsimaholo Municipality, is not only very upsetting and shocking for everybody involved, but is also disgusting. It is among the most heinous crimes against small children. These kind of actions leave all decent people bewildered and revolted, and cannot go unchallenged.
The Free State Department of Education (FSDoE) condemns with the strongest possible terms, the alleged brutal and barbaric act of raping the learner by someone she looked up to as a guardian and teacher. As a department, we also condemn rape in general, and associated insinuations that men who want to rape should seek older women and sex workers to "service" them.
Individually and collectively, and as part of government we have to address the national mindset by raising societal awareness about the criminality of violence against women and girls, especially sexual violence and its multiple impacts. The alleged rape is not only a humiliation of the young girl's being, but is inhuman and a gross violation of her human dignity.
While in most instances it is difficult for most victims to speak out, as a department we commend the young girl for her strength and courage to come out forward and reveal the brutality against her to her parents, so that action is taken against the perpetrator. Together, we have to combat, eliminate and uproot the ill-conceived notion that girls and women are sexual objects, available for people seeking sexual services.
We therefore call on the law enforcement agencies to send a sound message to perpetrators and take the strongest possible action against those who continue to terrorise the vulnerable. We appeal to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to bring to book and take even more drastic action against such other perpetrators who deprive our children of their constitutional rights to human dignity.
Appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrator of the alleged anti-social activity will be taken once the department has completed its own internal investigation. As a department we are committed to opening the doors of learning to all. Anyone who closes doors to learning is an adversary to democracy and civil rights.
As the FSDoE, we believe it is everyone's duty to ensure children are safe from harm. We wish to express our appreciation to our sister department (Department of Social Development (DSD) for their swift response in assisting the traumatised learner who was in dire need. As government departments we have a responsibility to enact and enforce measures that provide a protective environment for all children.
Enquiries:
Solly Magalefa
Tel: 051 404 8314
Cell: 082 573 3404
Fax: 051 404 8082
Fax to E-mail: 086 454 0569
E-mail: magalefasr@edu.fs.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education, Free State Provincial Government
20 May 2009
