'WE ALL CRIED'

IT was an emotional day for the parents of two eight-year-olds as they met with detectives at the school yesterday following an alleged incident of sexual assault involving their children at a Cape Town primary school.

One of the children allegedly assaulted the other on the school premises on Tuesday last week.

Parents met with detectives at Garlandale Primary in Athlone yesterday after allegations that a Grade 2 learner was sodomised by a boy in the same grade. 

The victim's father said: “Honestly, we got there, the detective came in, and we just waited. The detective then called us in.

"He just said, he knows exactly what happened. He interviewed a few people, it happened at the back of the school by the tree. There were three witnesses that saw. 

According to the parent, when they (parents of the victim and alleged perpetrator) heard what had happened, they were all very emotional. 

He added: “The other parent was also very emotional when she found out about her son, she was in disbelief. We all cried.

"We felt sorry for her too because she was going through the same thing as us. The detective told us the social worker will be in touch, as the Department of Social Development will take the matter from here and then we left.” 

However, the parents said they still wanted justice for the way the school handled the matter as they still had not heard from the teacher or principal.

They learned about what happened that evening from their child, as the school only called to say something had happened without providing exact details.

After the parents learned, they went to the local police and accompanied their child to the gender-based violence clinic where the pupil was examined. 

The father explained: “We don’t know what's going on. We still haven't been in contact with the principal, in terms of exams, how my son will get to finish his work. How they will support him or anything.

"We were there but she did not even look at us. She stayed in her own room. Honestly we still feel the same way we did last week. We don't have clarity."

The parents are determined to have their child transferred to a new school.

The Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) confirmed police visited the school yesterday. 

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said: “SAPS were at the school this morning to investigate. This is an ongoing investigation. Counselling support is being provided.  These are serious allegations that need to be dealt with in a sensitive manner.