This as his co-accused - boys between 14 and 15-years-old - were released into their parents’ custody following the group’s first appearance before the Thaba’ Nchu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 19 August. 

Free State police spokesperson, Thandi Mbambo, says the 18-year-old will only apply for bail on 24 August. The boys’ arrests come after they allegedly accosted one of the girls at the school during lunch break last week, Wednesday 11 August, and sexually violated her. The spokesperson of the Free State Education Department, Howard Ndaba, is yet to comment on rumours that the school has turned a blind eye to such cases previously.

On the day of the assault, the young girl was fetching her snacks from a classroom when the boys closed the door and the four of them forcibly began touching her inappropriately.

The assault came to an end after a fifth boy who was present, pushed the boys away and thus created an opportunity for the teenage girl to run. The 15-year-old girl reported the matter to her father, who in turn went to the school to notify them. The cause of sexual assault against the boys was opened six days after the incident by the victim’s father.

This comes after another case in the Free State, where learners at the St Michael’s School for Girls in Bloemfontein protested at the school’s grounds in April 2021 due to what they deemed to be unaddressed sexual misconduct at the school’s hostel. Ndaba confirmed that a grade 12 learner has been identified as the alleged perpetrator in the sexual misconduct, which occurred in late 2020. Ndaba stressed at the time 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 the police.

OFM News