The horrific case of seven-year-old Cwecwe, who was brutally assaulted in October 2024 at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, while waiting for school transport, has sparked national outrage and grief.

Political parties are demanding swift arrests and the prosecution of those responsible.

ActionSA has condemned the incident, demanding that the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) impose the harshest possible penalties on those responsible.

“We call on the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the judiciary to impose the harshest possible sentences. Monsters who commit such heinous crimes should never be allowed to walk free again.”

The party also highlighted that criminals act without fear of consequences, knowing the justice system is slow and flawed, with law enforcement often responding only when a case gains widespread attention.

“The brutalisation of children, particularly the most vulnerable in our communities, demands urgent and decisive action from law enforcement. Too often, violent criminals act with impunity, knowing that our justice system is weak and riddled with delays. This cannot be allowed to continue.

“We echo the frustration expressed by many South Africans regarding law enforcement authorities often failing to act and only doing so when a matter gains public attention, which cannot continue. Any child who is raped should prompt the mobilisation of all resources from our investigative and prosecutorial arms of the criminal justice system, not just for cases that receive high publicity,” ActionSA added.

RISE Mzansi has echoed similar sentiments, stating that it will send questions to the Ministers of Basic Education, Higher Education and Training, Justice and Constitutional Development, and Police to understand what measures are being taken to ensure the safety of South African learners and students, particularly girls and women, at educational institutions.

The party also expressed concern over the rising number of assault cases in certain provinces, noting that these incidents continue to increase each year.

“In terms of rape at schools, specifically, the provinces of the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West are of particular concern to RISE Mzansi, given double-digit, and triple-digit increases in some instances, year-on-year.”

The party has also raised an alarm over a comparative analysis of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 crime statistics, which show a disturbing increase in violent crimes at educational institutions. The party cautioned that the numbers could rise even further, as the 2024/25 Quarter 4 statistics are still pending.

• 296 rapes were recorded at educational institutions in the first three quarters of 2024/25 in comparison to 281 rapes recorded for the entire 2023/24 financial year.

• 36 murders were recorded at educational institutions in the first three quarters of 2024/25 in comparison to 33 recorded for the entire 2023/24 financial year.

• 879 cases of GBH (grievous bodily harm) were recorded at educational institutions in the first three quarters of 2024/25 in comparison to 976 for the entire 2023/24 financial year.

The alarming rise in teacher-on-learner assaults has once again come under the spotlight, with The Star recently exposing multiple disturbing cases. On February 13, a 45-year-old secondary school teacher was suspended for allegedly assaulting a Grade 11 learner at Lefureng Secondary School in Soweto. In another shocking incident, a 13-year-old girl was rapped multipole times from November 2024 until March 2025 by a 58-year-old teacher, who was finally arrested on Monday after attempting to evade the law.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za