NW probes alleged rape of deaf learner, delayed parental notification

The North West Department of Education has launched an investigation into how a 13-year-old deaf learner was allegedly raped by a 16-year-old learner at a special-needs school in 2024, and why his family was only informed, accidentally, more than a year later.

The boy’s parents say the school and police kept them in the dark, while the family of the alleged attacker was notified.

They are now questioning whether learners with special needs are adequately protected in the education system.

Education Department Provincial Spokesperson Elias Malindi says they are investigating why the matter was not reported through the proper internal channel.

“We have handed over the matter to our labour unit, which conducts investigations for whatever that is happening with the employees of the department.

We are just wondering why we were not informed properly through the process of the department.

So, we don’t want to pre-empt exactly what has happened (sic).

Currently, the matter is with the Department of Labour.

Working within the department, they are conducting investigations.

If there is someone who has to be charged on this matter, that will be informed by the findings of the investigation.” X | @SABCNews | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT | Save the Children South Africa CEO Gugu Xaba is weighing in on the arrest of a 16-year-old in Malmesbury, Western Cape, in connection with alleged child sexual abuse material linked to the online network known as “764” pic.twitter.com/5gBI4Xbd5W — SABC News (@SABCNews) August 18, 2026