The Gauteng Department of Education has dispatched officials to investigate allegations that a nine-year-old learner was raped by a teacher at Busisiwe Primary School in Zola, Soweto.
The alleged incident reportedly took place on the school premises, prompting parents and community members to stage a protest outside the school on Wednesday.
The protesters are demanding swift action from the department, including the immediate removal of the teacher allegedly involved.
Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says the department will await a detailed report from its officials before deciding on the appropriate course of action.
Maile says he expects to receive the report on Wednesday evening, after which a determination will be made.
He emphasised that the matter requires careful and sensitive handling, with the learner’s well-being remaining a priority.
The MEC says the department wants to establish the facts and ensure the investigation is handled properly, warning that procedural errors could undermine potential legal proceedings.
The department has committed to establishing the circumstances surrounding the allegations before taking further action.