Five grade three (standard 1) pupils, clutching their mothers’ hands, were marched into the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court dock on Friday where they appeared with a 13-year-old classmate in connection with the rape of an eight-year-old schoolgirl last month.
The 13-year-old is at a place of safety and the other five, between eight-and 10-years-old, were released into the custody of their parents after their first court appearance on October 28, shortly after the incident at the Tsholetsega Primary School.
The 13-year-old allegedly persuaded the five co-accused to hold down the girl while he allegedly raped her.
According to media reports, the grade three class had been unsupervised for an entire week. The school teacher was apparently writing an official examination.
There were no protesters or angry parents at the court on Friday for the postponement to November 22.
District Magistrate Charl Labuschagne took the postponement in camera because the children are minors.
The provisional charge is one of rape for all the accused since the younger ones allegedly associated themselves with the crime.
Officials are of the opinion that, like many other juvenile cases, the matter may not actually go as far as trial. The pupils would in all probability be sent together with a parent to life skills courses which are available and to which courts send alleged juvenile offenders. On satisfactory completion of courses charges are usually withdrawn.
Although the five pupils are in the custody of their parents, they are apparently unable to complete their school year as it is believed they are barred from their school.
Many primary schools start their end of year tests next week. – Sapa