As well as being the principal of a primary school in a rural area, I teach English and Zulu to Grade 4, 5 and 6 learners.
A while ago I asked the Grade 6 learners to write a Zulu composition. The topic was ‘A day I’ll never forget in my life”.
One of the girls wrote a story about the day her biological father raped her.
She said her father started raping her when she was 10 years old, which was a year ago. After the first rape she started menstruating. She said she told her mother about this, but her mother said she must keep quiet because her father would be arrested. She said even now that her father continues raping her; her problem is that she can’t tell anyone.
After reading this composition I quickly called the staff and the school governing body members together and informed them about this matter. We immediately phoned the child protection line and the father was arrested.
The performance of this girl in class is very poor. During break time I always find her leaning against the wall, alone. She isolates herself even in the classroom. This has traumatised her for the rest of her life.
Parents must be fair to their kids. They mustn’t favour their husbands above the future of their kids.