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Headmaster Arrested on Rape Charges After Alleged Assault on 15-Year-Old Student

HARRISMITH, South Africa — A 50-year-old headmaster of a private boarding school in the Free State has been arrested and suspended after being accused of sexually assaulting and raping a 15-year-old student in his care, an incident that has left the teenager severely traumatized.

The alleged assault occurred last month at the school in Harrismith. According to the girl's 42-year-old mother, the harassment began earlier this year when the principal repeatedly questioned the student about her virginity. The situation escalated on November 11, when the headmaster allegedly summoned the girl to his office.

The mother recounted that after asking for a hug, which her daughter refused, the principal instructed the girl to go to an old office block. It was there, she alleges, that the assault took place. The teenager confided in friends, who urged her to tell her parents. Her parents immediately drove 280 kilometers from Johannesburg to confront the school.

#### **Allegations of Institutional Obstruction**
The family claims their efforts to seek immediate justice were met with resistance. The mother alleges that local police were initially reluctant to open a case and asked her to leave the school premises. She also stated that security guards were instructed to deny her access.

**"No independent school, no governing body, and no principal is above the laws of SA,"** said Howard Ndaba, spokesperson for the Free State Department of Education. The department intervened to help the family formally register a criminal case, emphasizing that all schools remain under provincial oversight as the "ultimate custodian of learner safety."

Deepening Trauma and Legal Proceedings

The psychological impact on the victim has been profound. Her mother describes a dramatic change in her daughter's behavior: "Now she is always in her room playing games and not saying a word to anyone," a stark contrast to her previously bubbly personality.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confirmed that the headmaster faces serious charges, including sexual assault, intimidation, and rape. He has been arrested, suspended from his position, and is currently awaiting trial.

The case has ignited outrage and renewed calls for stricter oversight and more robust protective measures in schools, both public and private, to prevent predators from exploiting positions of authority.


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