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Gibson Mhaka
A “scathing” report supposedly recounting vivid and painful details of a massive sex scandal that hit Mahlothova Secondary School in Umguza District, Matabeleland North will be released soon.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education initiated an investigation following reports by B-Metro that one Form Three girl dropped out of school after being continuously defiled by one of the teachers who promised to help her pass her studies.
Speaking to B-Metro, Matabeleland North provincial education director (PED) Mr Jabulani Mpofu confirmed that they were busy with investigations and would issue a “full” report soon.
“We are almost done with investigations and a full report will be released soon. I can confirm that we had some challenges in conducting the investigations since the girl who is alleged to have been abused by the teacher in question is reported to have gone to South Africa,” said Mr Mpofu.
It is reported that the girl who is feared to be pregnant dropped out of school apparently in protest after the school authorities reportedly tried to conceal the matter.
The sexual abuse allegations by the teacher, whose name is also being withheld, wreaked havoc amid fears that worse could be happening to female pupils at the school’s makeshift boarding facility.
Investigations were carried out after some teachers and pupils at the school who are privy to the alleged sex scandal expressed fears that there were plans to sweep it under the carpet.
The sexual abuse was discovered in October 2018, but was concealed by the school authorities in a bid to save the image of the school. It came to light after the alleged perpetrator was found at the girls’ hostel half naked at around 10pm looking for the victim.
“After being busted, the teacher was reported to the matron and teacher in charge of the girls’ boarding facility who later informed the headmaster and his deputy but they didn’t do anything,” the source told B-Metro.
The victim, after being summoned by the school authorities, is alleged to have told them that before the alleged sexual abuse, the teacher in question had been pestering her to be his girlfriend.
“After the school authorities had decided to conceal the matter, the girl threatened to commit suicide or leave the school stating that it was so painful to be disbelieved by people who were supposed to protect her.”
Realising that the school authorities had turned a blind eye, the girl reportedly stopped coming to school.
“She eventually dropped out of school. It was not because she didn’t have the money because her school fees were being paid by a non-governmental organisation.
“The issue was also concealed by her class teacher mentor for the NGO supposedly at the instigation of the headmaster who wants to protect the teacher and the school’s image,” the source said.
It is reported that in March this year, in a bid to conceal the matter and to protect the image of the school, the authorities reportedly coached pupils and teachers close to the matter on what to say before the District Schools Inspector (DSI) Mrs Samkeliso Gwaza and her delegation came to the school to investigate reports of the alleged sexual abuse.
There were also reports that the parents of the girl were pressurised not to report the matter to the police after being promised some form of compensation by the culprit’s family.
Online Reporter