5 kids appear on rape charge
2002-11-08 12:05
Johannesburg - Five grade three (standard 1) pupils, clutching their mother's hands, have appeared in Krugersdorp magistrate's court with a 13-year-old classmate in connection with the rape of an eight-year-old schoolgirl last month.
The 13-year-old is at a place of safety and the other five, aged between eight and 10 years, were released into the custody of their parents after their first court appearance on October 28, shortly after the incident at the primary school.
The 13-year-old allegedly persuaded the five co-accused to hold down the girl while he allegedly raped her.
According to media reports, the grade three class had been unsupervised for an entire week. The teacher apparently was writing an official exam.
There were no protesters or angry parents at the court on Friday for the postponement to November 22.
Magistrate Charl Labuschagne took the postponement in camera because the children are minors.
Sent on life-skills courses
The provisional charge is one of rape for all the accused since the younger ones allegedly associated themselves with the crime.
Officials feel that, like many other juvenile cases, the matter may not actually go as far as trial. The pupils probably would be sent with a parent to life-skills courses, to which courts send juvenile offenders. When they have satisfactorily finished the courses, charges usually are withdrawn.
Although the five pupils are in the custody of their parents, they apparently can't complete their school year as it is believed they are barred from the school.
Many primary schools start their year-end tests next week.
- SAPA