The MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Senzo Mchunu has hailed the Camperdown Regional Court’s decision to hand down an 18 year jail term for a school principal who raped a 14 year old orphan.
The Georgedale Primary School principal, Nhlanhla Victor Mbongwe was arrested in April 2009 and subsequently found guilty of raping the grade seven pupil who was a prefect at the school.
“I am quite pleased with Magistrate Mpanza’s decision. It will send a very strong message to rapists masquerading as good citizens of this country. When parents send their children to school, they put all their trust and hope in teachers and principals. It never crosses their minds that they are putting their children in harm’s way.
As the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal, we fully support this decision, criminals must be locked up and kept as far away from society as possible and from our children, in particular,“ MEC Senzo Mchunu said.
MEC Mchunu further said, he noted the Magistrate’s observation that Mr Mbongwe showed no signs of remorse till the end.
“To those teachers who give this profession a bad name by raping, abusing and ill-treating learners, be warned this behaviour will not be tolerated. We urge parents, learners and community members to come forward and report such cases. Never allow yourself to be persuaded to drop charges if your child has been molested, raped or harrassed by anyone, even a teacher. It is wrong and we must fight it at all cost,“ said the MEC.
‘We want to further stress that those teachers who prey on boys and girls will be severely dealt with even those that have not yet been caught. Let’s report these cases so that we can build a nation free of fear, free of crime in whatever form.”
MEC Mchunu said, Mbongwe may very well have destroyed the life of a child with an otherwise promising future. He said schools ought to be sacrosanct and that it was important for teachers to treat them as such.
For more information contact:
Muntu Lukhozi
Cell: 082 562 5965
E-mail: muntu.lukhozi@kzndoe.gov.za
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Education
