By Lungile Ntimba
An 18-year-old suspect has been taken in for questioning in connection with the rape of five matric learners from a school in the Mqhekezweni Administrative area in the Eastern Cape.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said on Thursday that the investigation would determine whether he would be charged or released.
Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheli Mene said the police were working around the clock to ensure that the suspects were brought to book.
He said the provincial head of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit had assembled a team to investigate and apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape education department told Inside Education that the learners were in a place of safety and counselling was being provided.
Spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela said that despite the traumatic event, the pupils had opted to continue writing their National Senior Certificate exams.
“… what they are giving the department as a choice, is that they are wanting to write. And, therefore, we are obligated as a department to respect that wish and make sure that we deliver as such.
“What is currently happening is that they are in a place of safety, they are being given psychosocial support and also… tutors to help them in revision as they are doing Grade 12,” she said.
“Options that they had was one, not to write the papers that were left for them and write them in the following year, or just re-register for the entire year and go back to class. And then the third option was for them to segment their writing, that is if they would have been left with four subjects, they could write two subjects next year and two subjects the other year.
“But what they decided was to just write because they don’t want to miss the year 2024.”
The rapes have sent shockwaves throughout the country, with President Cyril Ramaphosa condemningthis incident of gender-based violence and saying it targeted learners in a critical phase of their young lives and educational journey.
INSIDE EDUCATION
