Police have urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands as a second man accused of the rape of two siblings at a local primary school has requested DNA testing to prove his innocence, and teachers at the school rally in support of a colleague earlier accused of the attacks.
Police have urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands as a second man accused of the rape of two siblings at a local primary school has requested DNA testing to prove his innocence, and teachers at the school rally in support of a colleague earlier accused of the attacks.
On Tuesday a 36-year-old man was arrested after claims that a six-year-old boy was raped on the school premises for a second time. Parents and members of the community reacted with outrage earlier this month after claims were made that the boy and his sister, 7, were raped by a teacher there.
The teacher named was suspended and the children removed from the school. Charges against the man accused in the most recent attack on the boy were withdrawn on Thursday. It had been claimed the boy was raped at the school when the shuttle service taking him home stopped there.
"According to my understanding the case has been provisionally withdrawn because of DNA results that are to come later," Grahamstown police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender told Grocott's Mail yesterday. "The alleged rapist has volunteered to have blood taken for DNA testing. We are taking this case very seriously and are doing everything we can."
"We urge the public not take the law into their own hands but to please let us know if they have any information."
The boy's father was disappointed that the case had been withdrawn. "My only concern is the safety of my children now. I don't even understand the support that these rapists get from the people and members of Sadtu… but I'm not going to give up… Little kids do not lie," he said.
Teachers at the school, however, believe both men named in the attacks are innocent. "We just want the real criminals to be caught, these men are innocent. This whole incident has been so sad. All we want to do is get back to school and do what we love, we want to teach," said one teacher, who did not want to be named.
