Free State Police spokesperson, Thandi Mbambo, says the accused are between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. It is alleged that last week Wednesday, the boys accosted their fellow learner in a classroom during lunch break. Mbambo tells OFM News the young girl was fetching her snacks from the classroom when the boys closed the door and forcibly began touching her inappropriately.

The assault came to an end after a fifth boy who was present pushed the boys away, thus creating an opportunity for the teenage girl to run away. The girl reported the matter to her father, who in turn went to the school to notify them. The case of sexual assault against the boys was opened by the victim's father, six days after the incident.

It is believed that it isn’t the first time that a scandal of this nature has been reported at the Tlotlanang Combined School, with a parent lamenting on social media that a similar violation occurred against her daughter and the school allegedly did nothing. 

Free State Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, is yet to respond to OFM News’ enquiries but vows to do so soon.

OFM News earlier reported learners at the St Michael’s School for Girls in Bloemfontein protested at the school’s grounds in April 2021, over what they deemed to be unaddressed sexual misconduct at the school’s hostel.

Ndaba, at that stage, confirmed that a grade 12 learner had been identified as the alleged perpetrator in the sexual misconduct which occurred in late 2020. Whilst the department acknowledged the learners’ concerns, Ndaba stressed that the reality is that the incident was only brought to the attention of the school in March, despite it occurring last year. 

Following the protest, an investigation was launched and subsequent hearings were held for the alleged perpetrator. The senior learner ended up leaving the school mid-way into disciplinary proceedings. Ndaba confirmed the department had escalated the matter to the authorities and a case was opened with police.

OFM News