By Lungile Ntimba
KwaZulu-Natal education MEC Sipho Hlomuka has commended the community in helping ensure the arrest of an alleged rapist accused of sexually assaulting six learners at the Bizimali High School in the Nkandla area.
“When I learned of the devastating incidents that had engulfed Inkosi Bizimali, I felt saddened and largely disappointed, I could only imagine the pain and horror felt by learners, hence I had to come see you and ensure that you are safe.” Hlomuka said in a statement on Friday.
The suspect was apprehended on Wednesday morning in Durban after a coordinated effort by the Nhloshane community, law enforcement agencies and various stakeholders.
The MEC commended both the community and traditional leadership for their active involvement in school governance, saying their leadership had demonstrated that education was a societal responsibility.
“Traditional leadership of the Ingono Tribal Authority in particular, Chairperson of the Amabhele Chieftaincy, Mr Ntuli, Inkosi Dlomo of Amakhabela and Inkosi Xulu, Gxabhashe! We are humbled under your leadership and confident that the schools are safe in your respective areas,” he said in honour of the Amakhosi.
The MEC was accompanied by officials from the departments of social development and community safety and liaison, who pledged to provide ongoing support to the school.
“We are pleased of the perpetrator’s incarceration. I will be in court when he makes an appearance in support of our learners, and hence, call for justice, that he be denied bail,” he said.
The department further assured the public that teaching and learning at the school had resumed as normal and that a sense of calm had been restored.
In response to the trauma experienced by the learners, the department said earlier this week that it had deployed psychologists to provide psychosocial support to the affected pupils and their families.
INSIDE EDUCATION
