By Charmaine Ndlela
A 55-year-old school principal and his accomplice were arrested on Monday, 17 November, following allegations that they kidnapped and attempted to sexually assault two Grade 12 pupils from Tsolo High School in the Eastern Cape.
The incident allegedly occurred on 10 November at around 9pm at the school hostel.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said the case was opened after one of the pupils reported the matter to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
According to police, the principal allegedly called one of the pupils to her hostel room before arriving with another learner.
The suspects then allegedly drove the pupils away, stopped near a forest where the principal pointed a firearm at them, and later proceeded to the Tsolo Municipality offices, where he allegedly attempted to sexually assault one of the girls.
Eastern Cape Education Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed the arrests and said a psychologist and a social worker have been deployed to the school to conduct a fact-finding mission and support the victims.
He described the incident as “unacceptable behaviour,” noting that it happened while the learners were writing their final examinations.
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