This, according to well-known businessman and community advocate Agosi Mdzipa from Bronkhorstspruit, is the opinion of most parents in the community following the alleged rape of a girl (9) in a toilet at a school in Bronkhorstspruit on the morning of August 12.

A case was opened at the police station the next day.

“Our little ones are under attack. Three men have respectively appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court this week for crimes against minors,” claimed Mdzipa.

“The first man allegedly raped a primary school learner at her father’s house earlier this year. A second man involved in scholar transport is accused of raping a girl commuting to school, and now the man in this latest case appeared in court on Wednesday.”

This 54-year-old man was arrested on Monday. Tensions reached a boiling point last week when the police had not yet arrested a perpetrator by August 29.

A call to close the school and keep learners away began circulating, and by Monday morning, tyres were burning at the entrances to the neighbourhood.

Parents and concerned residents arrived in large numbers at the school, demanding the resignation of the principal, deputy principal, and the school’s governing body. Some wanted the police to collect DNA from all the men working at the school.

Unconfirmed reports suggested that police mishandled the investigation by parading the men related to the school in front of the frightened young victim to identify her attacker, and that the wrong person was initially arrested. Several meetings followed between concerned parents, police officials, and school management on Monday.

“Parents believe their children are no longer safe at the school. They hold the SGB, the principal (who has been suspended on other matters), and the deputies responsible for what has happened. The consensus is that the current management must be disbanded,” said Mdzipa.

The station commander of Bronkhorstspruit Police Station, Colonel Simon Dhladla, addressed the crowd that morning. He explained that the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Ekangala is investigating the case.

Dhladla also mentioned that another girl has apparently been raped, but her mother was not cooperating with the police. He did not specify whether these cases are related.

The Riamarpark CPF chairperson, Cecilia Knox, attended the meetings at the school on Monday and commended the cooperation between the community and the police.

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“What a privilege to see the parent community standing together to seek justice for the victim. Mistakes were made within the school, the SGB, and SAPS in their handling of communication with parents and the broader community. These entities have acknowledged their errors and are working swiftly to address them.”

Knox appreciates that parents stepped up to prevent this victim from becoming just another statistic.

“It is up to the community and parents to ensure that an attitude of ‘business as usual’ is not adopted. As CPF, it is also our responsibility to hold SAPS and the justice system accountable, monitoring the progress of the case through the system.”

Knox added that parents and community members conducted themselves with restraint despite high emotions.

“It is remarkable what can be achieved in a short period when all sectors work together to resolve an issue. The arrest of the perpetrator offers hope that sexual violence will no longer be tolerated and that victim shaming will come to an end,” she concluded.

A crowd began gathering in front of the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court to protest against child abuse and the granting of bail, at Streeknews’ time of going to print on Wednesday morning.

The man in custody is facing three charges of sexual assault. The victim was allegedly assaulted at school in January and June last year, and again in August this year. Captain Johan van Dyk, police spokesperson for Tshwane, said the case was postponed to September 11 for a formal bail application.

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