From being a bubbly child who shared everything with her mother, an allegedly sexually abused teenager now isolates herself from her and her friends and family.
This is how the life of a 15-year-old girl has changed after her alleged abuse at the hands of a school principal, who has been arrested and placed on suspension.
The teen’s 42-year-old mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child, said the incident happened last month at a private boarding school in Harrismith in the Free State.
It is alleged that the headmaster, 50, summoned the child to his office, and when she arrived, he asked for a hug. They then went to an old office block where he allegedly touched her inappropriately.
The teen’s mother said the harassment of her daughter started during term two when the headmaster on several occasions asked her child about her virginity status.
“My child told me that she was summoned on November 11 by the principal. However, when she went to his office there was other staff members present and the principal told her to go back and said he would call her later on.
“Later, he called her through the res lady, and as soon as they were in the office, the principal asked for a hug, but my daughter politely refused,” the mother said.
Later, he called her through the res lady, and as soon as they were in the office, the principal asked for a hug, but my daughter politely refused
— Mother of the 15-year-old
The principal allegedly didn’t take no for an answer and instructed her to go to an old office block on the premises, where he started touching her private parts.
The child later told her friends about her ordeal and they advised her to tell her parents in Johannesburg. The parents immediately drove about 280km to the school.
The mother said they met with the principal, who conceded he said inappropriate things to the girl.
The mother alleges that local police seemed hesitant to open a case against the principal.
She said the next day, when she was at the school trying to meet with staff members, the police allegedly called her and said that she must leave the school. The school security guard also allegedly told her that they were instructed to deny her access.
“They asked me to leave the school and I asked them what they are doing and they told me that they will not guard my child,” she said.
She then approached the Free State education department, which helped her register a case with the police.
The mother said her daughter’s experience had changed her behaviour because she had been a lively girl. “I was trying to get a psychologist for her because I don’t know what is wrong with her,” she said.
“Now she is always in her room playing games and not saying a word to anyone.”
Free State education department spokesperson Howard Ndaba said: “The school may be an independent institution, but let it be stated clearly and without ambiguity that no independent school, no governing body, and no principal is above the laws of SA.
“Every school remains subject to the oversight of the provincial education department which is the ultimate custodian of learner safety and welfare in this province.”
The mother told Sowetan that the man she met during the interview for her daughter’s admission to the school is totally different from the man who is now in the dock for allegedly abusing her daughter.
“I always loved how the Free State is always number one in terms of matric results,” she said. “I learnt about the school through a former colleague and during the interview the accused appeared as a strict principal,” she said.
The National Prosecuting Authority in the province confirmed that the principal faces charges of sexual assault, intimidation and rape.
Sowetan
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