Key Points
- The Police Minister has declared that police will give top attention to the Cwecwe investigation process.
- The principal faces strong criticism because he failed to take appropriate action.
- The investigation revealed three suspects with the principal being one of them.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu together with the South African Police Service (SAPS) have declared the Bergview College Eastern Cape attack on 7-year-old Cwecwe to receive their highest priority status.
The public has raised their voices in outrage while demanding proper action
Either of these two civil organizations Not In My Name International or the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Youth League expressed their angry response to the attack that happened when Cwecwe waited at school transport. The case which police received information about in October 2024 remains without any detentions.
Themba Masango as secretary-general of Not In My Name International denounced the incident before demanding prompt enforcement. The law enforcement agency needs to immediately focus on this case while collaborating with child protection units according to his statement. He demanded quick prosecutions for the attacking individuals.
School principal’s failure to act
The MK Youth League criticized the school administrator because he neither contacted the Department of Education nor collaborated with the investigation team. The failure of the principal who refused to provide DNA support raised critical concerns because the parents of Cwecwe took immediate steps by reporting the incident immediately after securing proper medical care.
The MK Youth League declared that leadership had failed monstrously in their statement while calling for a complete investigation and disciplinary action against the principal.
Investigation updates on Cwecwe rape case
SPS spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that SAPS established the case of rape on October 16, 2024. The law enforcement teams continue their search for identification of potential suspects. Medical professionals along with psychologists have supported the victim with necessary care.
Minister Mchunu revealed that among the suspects are a principal and two other persons. The Senior State Prosecutor will discuss the DNA results next week after the DNA testing completion. Mchunu promised that investigators were providing complete seriousness to the Cwecwe rape case.
Education department response
The Eastern Cape Department of Education plans to strip Bergview College of registration status because the principal did not sufficiently protect his educational establishment from threats. The department stressed security must exist before an independent school can register for evaluation and certification.
