An eight-year-old girl from Mpilonhle Primary School was allegedly raped during an inter-school singing competition held at Platorand High School in Belfast, Mpumalanga, on 8 May 2025.
Mpilonhle Primary schoolgirl allegedly raped at inter-school singing competition
The incident has left the Dullstroom community outraged, especially after claims surfaced that two teachers who knew about the incident failed to take action.
According to the victim’s mother, her daughter was one of several learners from Mpilonhle Primary who travelled to participate in the competition, which included around 20 schools.
While at the event, the child was harassed by a group of at least four boys who took her lunch.
Later, while she was playing alone on the school grounds, the same group reportedly dragged her to the boys’ bathroom, where the attack took place.
“She was forced to take off her pants and her underwear. The boy did the same. He put her on the toilet seat and raped her. She screamed. A teacher from the school heard her and caught the boy in the act,” the mother told eNCA reporter Silindelo Masikane.
Shocking: At least two teachers knew about it and did nothing
What has added to the community’s anger is that, according to the family, the teacher who witnessed the assault allegedly told the child not to speak about the incident.
The girl later reported what happened to another teacher on her school bus, who allegedly dismissed her, saying, “It’s none of your business.”
It was only that evening, when the child returned home, that her mother noticed something was wrong. Usually bubbly and talkative, the girl was quiet and withdrawn. The mother also noticed that her daughter had wet the bed, something very unusual for her.
The next morning, on 9 May, the mother pressed her daughter to explain what was wrong. The girl then revealed the details of the incident. She was taken to a local clinic and later transferred to a hospital, where a rape kit was completed.
Medical staff confirmed injuries so severe that the child needed stitches. She remains at home, unable to walk properly or return to school.
A 15-year-old boy is currently being questioned by police. A case docket has been opened, but no arrests have been confirmed. The community has since demanded immediate justice and accountability from school officials.
As of publication, the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have not issued formal statements regarding the incident.
