Principal keeps rape 'secret'

2005-02-10 19:59

Polokwane - A primary-school teacher has blown the whistle on the school's principal and two teachers after the trio attempted to keep a rape of a pupil a secret.

Inspector Ntobeng Phala said on Thursday police were called to the school in GaMalebogo by the teacher after she learned of the "secret".

Phala said: "The victim had been raped on February 1 by one of her teachers.

"She had gone to the teachers' quarters after her class teacher asked her to clean his room for him.

"She was about to leave because it started raining. She ran into one of the rooms, only to find the rapist there.

She said the teacher then forced himself on her and raped her."

'Principal agreed with parents'

He said the girl had told her class teacher about the rape, who in turn reported the matter to the girl's parents.

Phala said the girl's parents, together with the alleged rapist and the principal, agreed not to report the matter, opting to resolve it amicably.

Phala said when police went to the school to interview the girl, the principal refused them entry to the school.

Phala said: "We are looking at charging the principal with obstruction of police in their duties."

He said the girl had been taken to the hospital for examination and that a case of rape was being investigated.

- SAPA