Eastern Cape Nightmare: 8-Year-Olds Face Rape Charges in Shocking School Incident!

 Eastern Cape – The Eastern Cape is grappling with a series of deeply disturbing allegations involving child-on-child sexual assault, with the fate of three eight-year-old boys now in the hands of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The boys are accused of raping an eight-year-old classmate in three separate incidents at a primary school in Libode earlier this month.

The alleged incidents took place on the 6th, 9th, and 10th of February at a primary school in a remote village, according to police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana. "A case of rape was opened at Libode police station and subsequently transferred to the Mthatha Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit for further investigation," Gantana confirmed. "This follows an allegation that three boys, all aged 8, from a local school (in Libode), allegedly raped an 8-year-old schoolgirl on the school premises between 6 February 2026 and 10 February 2026 at an unknown time."

The mother of the young victim in Libode spoke to News24, describing the devastating impact on her daughter. "She is afraid and is not sleeping well at night," the distraught mother revealed. "The social workers have really helped us a lot, but it’s not easy. I really cannot believe that such young boys would [allegedly] do something like this to my child." The mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, also confirmed that her daughter has not returned to school since the alleged incidents.

Adding to the alarm, a separate case has emerged in East London, where a 13-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl outside a primary school on 5 February. Gantana stated that "The suspect was arrested on 10 February and appeared before the East London Magistrate’s Court on 11 February. He has been released into the care of his mother, and the case has been postponed to 9 April."

The mother of the East London complainant has since removed her daughter from the school, citing the trauma her child experienced. "I removed her because she was afraid of going back to the school. It was so traumatic for her. I want justice for my daughter," she asserted. The woman said she found out about the alleged incident on the morning of 6 February, "That was when she refused to go to school. I asked her why, then she told me what happened,"

In the wake of these shocking allegations, the provincial education department has dispatched a team of officials to the affected schools to provide counselling and psychosocial support services. Provincial education spokesperson Mali Mtima stated, "We have dispatched a team of officials to make sure the affected learners are provided with counselling and psychosocial support. We assisted the parent of the girl in East London to find a new school. We will do the same thing for the Libode incident."

The incidents have sparked outrage and concern among child rights activists and the broader community. Children’s rights activist Petros Majola emphasised the need for parents to educate their children about the consequences of crime. "Parents must talk about the consequences of committing crime to their children. We are also urging parents not to expose their children to sexual acts, whether in real person or on television," Majola said.

Amanda Timms, an anti-crime activist, highlighted the responsibility of school management in ensuring the safety of children. “It is the responsibility of school management to make sure that children are safe inside and near school premises,” Timms stated.

These cases in the Eastern Cape have ignited a national conversation about the vulnerability of children and the urgent need for preventative measures and comprehensive support systems to address child sexual abuse. While the legal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators unfold, the focus remains on providing care and healing for the young victims and addressing the underlying societal factors that contribute to such devastating incidents. Similar incidents of child-on-child sexual violence have been reported in other parts of South Africa, highlighting a systemic issue that demands immediate attention and coordinated action from government, communities, and families.