The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the Eastern Cape has painfully learnt of an incident where a seven-year-old pupil was allegedly raped at Bergview College, Matatiele Eastern Cape in October 2024.

Through the media statement of the MEC of Education in the Eastern Cape, Fundile Gade and other stakeholders, we have been made aware that a case was opened in October 2024 but regrettably to date there have not been any arrests. The principal of the school has also refused to cooperate with the police by agreeing to give his DNA sample, insisting he is not a suspect.

This incident comes as a shock and is a sad occurrence where a child’s safety and rights were violated in a place that is supposed to offer education along with the chief principles of safety and security.

As the Federation, we stand with the citizens of our great country in demanding justice for Cwecwe and implore the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, to instruct the police to ensure the law takes its course. A thorough and just investigation must be swiftly carried out and all children’s safety must be prioritised, enabling the justice system to reassure all citizens that perpetrators of such heinous crimes will be brought to book. 

We also want to commend MEC Gade for his swift and decisive intervention of notifying the school of the intention to withdraw its registration. We also note the involvement of AfriForum to represent and protect the rights of the principal, who refuses to cooperate with investigation and by so doing forfeits the chance to exonerate himself and the school from the crime.

The family deserves justice; the community deserves justice; and every child deserves to be protected by the law and all citizens. 

The newly elected leadership of the COSATU Eastern Cape Gender structure is gearing up to work with like-minded civil society organs to highlight the plight of Cwecwe’s family and ensure justice for their child is attained.

Issued by COSATU Eastern Cape

Mkhawuleli Maleki

COSATU Provincial Secretary

Mobile: 082 339 5482

Email: mkhawuleli@cosatu.org.za