LARNEY SCHOOL SUED FOR RAPE

Curro Holdings Limited, a larney private school, and a former learner are being sued for damages worth R6.5 milllion after a underage drinking party went wrong and led to the rape of a meisie.

According to court documents, the incident occurred in January 2019 during the school’s 20-Year Anniversary concert at the Bellville Civic Centre and the matter will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on 26 May.

The learner, who was a Grade 10 pupil at the time, and other learners were accommodated at the Protea Hotel in Tygervalley under the supervision of Curro-appointed chaperones and onnies including the accused, Nicholas Job, who was a matric learner at the Pinehurst branch at the time.

The documents state: “It is alleged that teachers and chaperones encouraged underage drinking at the hotel following the concert. The [victim], reportedly feeling unwell after consuming alcohol, returned to her room, where Job is accused of sexually assaulting and raping her.

"The case is expected to be heard at the Western Cape High Court on 26 May in a civil claim seeking R6.5million in damages after she reportedly suffered severe and lasting psychological trauma, including diagnoses of major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder."

However, Job, from Kraaifontein, said that it is not the waarheid.

The now 24-year-old said that she had “misbehaved” whilst she was gesuip, but denies that he sexually assaulted or raped her.

The school, meanwhile, is arguing idemnity.

Attorney Anthony Batchelor, representing the victim, said: “This indemnity argument is not only flawed but flies in the face of the Constitution, the Schools Act, and the Children’s Act… No parent can lawfully waive a child’s constitutional right to safety, especially not when the child is under the school’s care, surrounded by staff and fellow pupils.”

The skool has previously been involved in other sexual misconduct cases at other branches where those matters were dealt with in stilte.

Batchelor said: “The case was initially reported to the South African Police Service but was withdrawn on the advice of the claimant’s school-appointed psychologist, ostensibly to allow her to heal psychologically.

“This case may become a litmus test for how South African private schools treat the safety of their learners - and how far they will go to protect their reputation."