Calls for justice grow as South Africans rally for Cwecwe

The case of an eight-year-old girl, allegedly raped at her school in Matatiele last year, has ignited nationwide outrage and renewed calls for urgent action to protect children in educational institutions.

On Tuesday, thousands of South Africans took to the streets in major cities, including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban, demanding justice for the child and accountability from authorities. The girl, who was seven at the time of the alleged attack at Bergview College, has become a symbol of the country’s struggle to safeguard children from abuse in schools.

Delayed justice and growing frustration

Despite the incident occurring in October last year, the case only gained widespread attention two weeks ago when the child’s mother shared her ordeal in a podcast and local media. No arrests had been made at the time of publication, further fueling public frustration.

South Africa’s police minister, Senzo Mchunu, assured the nation last week that authorities were handling the case with “utmost seriousness and priority.” He confirmed that three suspects, including school staff, had been identified. However, activists argue that delays in investigations and prosecutions are common in such cases, leaving victims and their families in limbo.

Public outcry and political response

The Democratic Alliance (DA) joined the call for justice, stating: “Every child deserves to be safe, and every parent or guardian deserves the peace of mind that when they send their child to school, they are sending them to a place of care, not a place of harm.” The party highlighted the shocking number of reported cases involving educators in the Eastern Cape, citing parliamentary data that revealed multiple suspensions related to sexual misconduct with learners.

DA leaders emphasized that schools must never protect perpetrators or cover up abuse, calling for systematic reforms, including the immediate vetting of all school staff against the National Sexual Offenders Register. “Today’s march is a cry from South Africans who refuse to accept a society where children are unsafe,” the statement read.

A country grappling with gender-based violence

South Africa faces a deeply entrenched crisis of gender-based violence and child abuse. United Nations statistics estimate that one in three women in the country will experience physical or sexual abuse in their lifetimes. Police figures for 2023/2024 recorded 42,500 rapes, with 17,100 of those cases involving children.

Despite these alarming statistics, justice remains elusive for many victims. The National Prosecuting Authority only managed to bring 449 child rape cases to trial in the same period, highlighting systemic failures in addressing sexual violence.

Another case sparks concern

As protests unfolded, police announced the arrest of a primary school teacher accused of raping a 13-year-old learner in Limpopo, underscoring the widespread nature of abuse in schools.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring sexual predators are barred from employment in schools. However, delays in publishing the national register of convicted sexual offenders—initially promised by the end of February—have raised concerns about the government’s ability to enforce stricter vetting measures.