MPUMALANGA’S education department has failed to act or comment in the case of a farm principal accused of sexually molesting a boy of 16 at the school.
The alleged offence was reported to police more than a week ago, and education spokesman Peter Maminza promised last Friday the department would investigate immediately.
He said at the time a decision would be made by Tuesday. But on Tuesday Maminza declined to comment, and could not give details of any departmental action against the principal.
Frank Ngwane, 56, of Ummeli Primary School, near Siyathuthuka township at Belfast, appeared in the Belfast District Court last Monday on an indecent assault charge. He was not asked to plead and was released on warning until March 10.
The allegations included sexual escapades in Ngwane’s office and at his home. They go back to the middle of last year, and were brought to the attention of police by a female teacher who apparently interviewed the boy.
— African Eye News Service, March 1, 2000.