’These two pupils suffered and endured severe pain. The young women were repeatedly raped, stabbed and left in the veld.’
THE NORTHERN Cape MEC for Education, Zolile Monakali, the MEC for Social Development, Nontobeko Vilakazi, and the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Nomandla Bloem, visited Dithakong Village on Wednesday following the recent rape and stabbing of two Grade 12 pupils from Dibotswa High School in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
The spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, stated that the pupils were dragged into an open field after their homes were broken into while they were asleep on February 22.
“These two pupils suffered and endured severe pain. The young women were repeatedly raped, stabbed and left in the veld,” said Van der Merwe.
“Fortunately, they survived the ordeal and were hospitalised after sustaining injuries.”
Van der Merwe added that pupils were struggling to concentrate in class and cope with their schoolwork following the incident.
“This incident has also severely traumatised not only our educators and pupils but also the whole community, who fear for their safety.”
He said that the Department of Social Development had availed social workers to work with those directly affected.
“We are traumatised and saddened by these senseless acts of violence.”
Van der Merwe stated that the MECs for Education, Social Development, Transport, Safety and Liaison visited Dithakong Village on Wednesday to address the concerns of the broader community and pupils relating to this incident.
“The community is disappointed in the SAPS and claims that the justice system is failing them. The community is demanding the immediate re-arrest of the alleged perpetrators, as they continue to live in fear while the alleged criminals are roaming free in the streets of Dithakong … They related that the perpetrators continue to intimidate, harass and threaten other community members.”
He indicated that some educators who had encountered these perpetrators had since resigned and relocated from the area.
“We do hope that the law will take its full course and perpetrators will be brought to book in order for justice to prevail. We have no space for criminal elements in communities as this defeats us in our quest to establish safer homes, safer schools and safer communities. We condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms and call on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned during their investigations.”
