Mkhululi Ncube [email protected]
A VIDEO showing a 16-year-old learner from Singeni Secondary School in Nkayi being assaulted by a man has sparked outrage, with calls for the suspect to be brought to book.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on 30 October, has also raised concerns over the safety of schoolgirls who travel long distances through isolated areas to and from school in parts of Nkayi and Lupane.
The suspect, only identified as Zulu, is reportedly from the Luhumbe area in Gwambe village, Lupane, near the Nkayi district boundary.
The learner was reportedly among a group of pupils returning home from school when the incident occurred. She is a boarder at the low-cost boarding school and stays with her uncle and his wife when away from school.
Her aunt, Ms Siphahliwe Gumude, said the learner usually returned home every Friday.
She said the girl arrived home injured, with a swollen body and torn school uniform.
“She arrived with a swollen body and she said she had been beaten by a boy who was with two others. Her uniform was torn and she was walking with difficulty. She denied being in a relationship with him. We pray the police will get to the bottom of the matter,” she said.
Ms Gumude was speaking during an interview at Mbuma Mission Hospital, where the learner had gone for a medical check-up.
She said the uniform was left bloodstained and would not be suitable for her to wear when she returned to school.
Community social worker Ms Ntombizodwa Moyo said there was an urgent need to construct a secondary school in the area to reduce the long distances travelled by learners.
She expressed concern over reports of boys waylaying schoolgirls along isolated routes, allegedly harassing and assaulting those who reject their advances.
“Umntwana watshaywa okuzwayo. She cannot carry anything due to pain. She says she has pain in her legs and shoulders. The learner denied being in a relationship with the perpetrator. She said she knows him through soccer tournaments which are sometimes held at their school. But whatever the case, there is no justification for that barbaric act from him,” she said.
Ms Moyo said she was deeply distressed by the learner’s condition and called for urgent intervention to protect girls in the area.
She said some girls were reportedly dropping out of school due to pregnancies, while others were afraid to continue attending classes because of harassment along the routes they use.
She also expressed concern over the delay in reporting the assault to the police.
Meanwhile, Emthojeni Women’s Forum has offered to provide psychosocial support to the learner and assist the family with transport and medical expenses.
The organisation’s counsellor, Ms Lizinethi Beta, said more action was needed to address the abuse of schoolchildren.
“We are going to provide support to the learner so that she receives proper medical care and psychosocial support. We are really concerned, worried and frown upon such behaviour amongst boys or men who are harassing children coming from school. We need all stakeholders to put their hands on the deck if we are to reduce gender-based violence,” she said.
Ms Beta called for community awareness programmes, particularly in remote areas where access to information was limited.
She said schools, through their guidance and counselling departments, should do more to equip learners with information on their safety and rights.
“We also urge community leadership like traditional leaders and councillors to address these issues in their communities. Parents must also be educated to report such cases as a matter of urgency. There is no need for such matters to be handled by families because it is a behaviour that must never be condoned by anyone,” she said.
