Thousands of South Africans rallied across the country on Tuesday in support of a seven-year-old girl allegedly raped at school last year and to demand justice for the child.
The girl, now aged eight, was allegedly raped at Bergview College in Matatiele in October last year, but the case only attracted attention two weeks ago after her mother detailed what happened in a podcast and in local media, demanding authorities take action.
No arrests have been made as at the time of publishing.
But South Africa’s police minister Senzo Mchunu said last week that police were investigating with “utmost seriousness and priority” and had identified three suspects, including staff at the school in the Eastern Cape.
More than 2 000 people marched through the centre of Cape Town, with thousands more at protests in other major centres such as Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban.
“I have no trust in our justice system, it has always failed us,” said Janine de Vos, a mother-of-two who was at the Cape Town demonstration.
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‘Every child deserves to be safe’ – DA
The Democratic Alliance (DA) issued a statement on Tuesday, saying: ‘Every child deserves to be safe, and every parent or guardian deserves the peace of mind that when they send their child to school, they are sending them to a place of care, not a place of harm. Today, as thousands march across South Africa under the banner of #JusticeForCwecwe, we are forced to confront the hard truth that our schools are not always the places of safety they should be.
‘The attack on seven-year-old Cwecwe has shaken our country because it is every parent’s worst fear. But the march today is not only for her. It is for every child who has been failed and for every family left with no answers and no justice. It is a reminder that behind every headline is a young life shattered by the very people and systems meant to protect them.
‘A recent parliamentary response from Education MEC, Fundile Gade, confirms this is not an isolated tragedy. In the last year alone, twenty-two educators in the Eastern Cape were suspended for serious misconduct involving learners. Five of those cases involve sexual assault, three involved raping a learner, and three involve inappropriate relationships with learners. Some teachers have been dismissed, but many cases remain unresolved, with investigations still ongoing and disciplinary hearings delayed.
‘These numbers are unacceptable. They reflect a reactive rather than preventative system that moves too slowly when it should move urgently. Schools should never protect perpetrators or hide failures. They should protect children.
‘The call by Minister Siviwe Gwarube to change the law and ensure every adult who works with children is vetted against the National Sexual Offenders Register is not just welcome; it is long overdue.
‘But it cannot stop there. There must be clear consequences for those who cover up abuse, delay justice, or turn a blind eye.
‘Today’s march is a cry from South Africans who refuse to accept a society where children are unsafe. It calls for accountability, urgent reform, and real action to protect every learner. We stand with Cwecwe, her family, and every survivor who has been let down. This must be a turning point. Our children deserve nothing less.’
High rate of abuse
South Africa battles a high rates of abuse against women and children.
One in three women in the country experiences physical or sexual abuse in their lifetimes, according to United Nations figures.
Few perpetrators are brought to justice.
Of the 42 500 rapes reported in 2023/2024, 17 100 involved child victims, according to police figures.
In the same year the National Prosecuting Authority only brought 449 child rape cases to trial, according to its own figures.
Similar case
In a similar case, police said on Tuesday they had arrested a primary school teacher accused of raping a 13-year-old learner in the north of the country.
RELATED | Limpopo teacher arrested for alleged rape of 13-year-old learner
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube told journalists on Tuesday the government had to ensure “that sexual predators … are not included as staff members at a school” and are vetted against the sexual offenders register.
The government had promised to make public by the end of February the national register of convicted sexual offenders, but the process has stalled due to legal delays.
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