The Gauteng department of education (GDE) has confirmed it is aware of allegations of sexual misconduct involving two Grade 1 learners at Risidale Primary School, saying the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness.

A concerned parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, contacted the publication on February 2 regarding this matter. The publication then immediately reached out to the GDE for more information. Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said officials intervened after the allegation, involving an eight-year-old girl and a boy in the same grade, surfaced.

According to the department, the South African Police Service has been engaged to take the necessary action, while the matter is being managed in collaboration with the school-based support team co-ordinator. The alleged victim was taken to Rahima Moosa Hospital for a medical examination following the incident. Support services were also activated to assist the child and her family.

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Mabona confirmed the learner was offered counselling through the Teddy Bear Clinic, a specialist child-protection organisation. Victim support was also arranged through the Linden Police Station, where both sets of parents were offered counselling services.

Child-protection specialists say incidents of this nature can be deeply confusing and distressing for children of such a young age. Clinical director of the Teddy Bear Clinic Dr Shaheda Omar explained that children at eight years old are still developing their understanding of personal boundaries, trust, and safety. “When those boundaries are violated, the immediate psychological effects can include shock, fear, confusion, shame, and anxiety.”

Young children often struggle to articulate what they have experienced, she added. Instead, the emotional distress frequently appears through behavioural changes. Children may become withdrawn, fearful of certain places, such as school, or display sudden emotional outbursts. Trauma can also manifest through sleep disturbances, nightmares, bedwetting, regression to earlier childhood behaviours, such as thumb-sucking, or unexplained physical complaints, like headaches or stomach aches. In other cases, a child may withdraw from friends and normal activities, struggle to concentrate at school, or experience a decline in academic performance.

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Omar said both very quiet behaviour and disruptive actions can be warning signs of distress. In incidents where learners are of the same age group, professionals approach the situation through a child-protection and developmental framework, rather than focusing purely on punishment. “The primary priority is the safety, protection, and emotional recovery of the alleged victim,” Omar said.

Trauma-informed counselling is crucial in helping a child process the experience in a safe and developmentally appropriate environment. However, the alleged perpetrator is also a child and may require psychological assessment. According to Omar, inappropriate sexual behaviour in young children can sometimes be linked to exposure to sexual content, previous abuse, neglect, or developmental challenges. Mental health professionals therefore work to understand the underlying causes, while providing behavioural interventions, education about boundaries, and therapeutic support.

The aim, she said, is both protection and prevention – addressing harmful behaviour early so that it does not escalate later in life.

The GDE says the matter remains under management with the relevant authorities and support structures involved.

Risidale Primary management stated that they acknowledge the receipt of the publication’s query, but were unable to comment due to the ongoing investigation.

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